Are You Lonesome Tonight?
As we move into short days and long nights, it becomes easier to feel discouraged. If we are increasingly secluded (by weather and, this year, by governmental edict), we can experience genuine loneliness. I enjoy being alone, but I have a choice in the matter; others do not. Solitude occurs when we want to be alone; loneliness happens when friends and family are taken from us. Solitude soothes, whereas loneliness looms. Because God knows all about us, His Word speaks to us about the painful subject of loneliness. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Luke 2:36-38 briefly speaks of a godly, aged woman named Anna. At the first Christmas, she knew the loneliness of both old age and widowhood. We should note the number of older people in the Christmas account – Zechariah, Elizabeth, Anna, and perhaps Simeon. One important indicator of the values of a society is its regard for the elderly; the farther we are from the Lord, the more our older people will suffer indignity and even abuse. Anna found her dignity and purpose in serving God “with fastings and prayers night and day” (verse 37). For those of us who are older, we know what it is like not to be able to sleep through the night. In those sleepless hours, Anna simply continued her ministry of prayer – how practical! As she prayed, she was interacting spiritually with those whom she named in supplication – she was no longer alone. Moreover, she was communicating with God, Who knew her, valued her, listened to her, and blessed her with the visitation of the Messiah. Soon, she would see God face to face in heaven; here, unexpectedly, she beheld the face of God the Son. May we keep praying even in times of loneliness, and may we remember that the God to Whom we are praying is good.