To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is what it means to be loved by God.

Timothy Keller

This new year, loneliness has found its way to creep back into my life. When I say loneliness, I mean not physically lonely, but feeling lonely. Have you ever felt alone in a crowded room? It’s painful to be in a crowded room, and feel all alone. Isn’t it weird how you can rub shoulders with someone but yet still feel alone? Proximity and activity don’t always equal connectivity.

Just like us, Kind David experienced great loneliness. Near the end of 1 Samuel 21 and beginning of 1 Samuel 22, David leaves Gath, leaving his best friend Jonathan behind, and escapes to the cave of Adullam. From the period of him leaving to the cave and his brothers and relatives joining him later, David was all lone in despair. In this period, David wrote Psalm 13. Starting at verse 1, David wrote “I’m hurting, Lord — will you forget me forever? How much longer, Lord? Will you look the other way when I’m in need?” David reached a point so low he actually felt that everyone, even God, abandoned him. Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom or fall flat on our face to really see Him even though he’s been there all the time. Even though David endured loneliness, he still fought for his faith. He cried out to God in times of need and desperation, and received strength and hope. Psalms 25: 21 says “Your profession and faithfulness are my bodyguards, for you are my hope and I trust in you as my only protection.” Instead of blaming God and saying “why me?”, David drew close to God in his loneliest moments.

Even Jesus experienced loneliness. On the cross he cried out ” God, my God! Why would you abandon me now? Why do you remain distant, refusing to answer my tearful cries in the day and my desperate cries for your help in the night? I can’t stop sobbing. Where are you, my God?” (Psalms 22:1-2). He experienced complete separation from God and absolute loneliness. The crowds of people who use to shout “Hosanna!” now shouted “Crucify!” On the cross, Jesus was dying for you and me. God was laying all of our sins fully on him. Jesus had to bear our pain on the cross. He instantly became guilty of of everything that we have ever done. As he was dying for you and me, he offered peace, joy and forgiveness all so that we would never have to be lonely ever again.

Trust me, I get it. It’s difficult to not feel lonely at times, definitely during this time of year. I’ve had my fair share of feeling lonely, but those are the times where I need to remind myself that God is always with me, I’m never alone. Listen, we climb so many mountains that we don’t even know we are facing. We climb the mountain of self-doubt, giving us confidence. We climb the mountain of loss, giving us perspective. We climb the mountain of resentment, giving us peace. We climb the mountain of failure, giving us growth. AND NOW we can climb the mountain of loneliness and receive the presence of God that satisfies all needs.

“You have come so far. Through every long night, and every lonely morning, by His grace, you held on. You overcame.”

Morgan Harper Nichols

Love,

Emily