God's timing is always perfect. And today's entry is no exception. The Christmas season is supposed to be a time of joy, hope, and anticipation. Many of us have family and friends we gather with, there's laughter and love. But for some, there is emptiness, loneliness and sadness. They have none to gather with, maybe a loved one has died, maybe they live far away from loved ones, or perhaps an estrangement has caused isolation...whatever the cause they feel alone. Left out and forgotten. But they are not. And Mom's journal entry today speaks to that depth of heartache....God's perfect timing.
Loneliness, when you feel lonely and/or depressed. This is the time to meditate on God, on His kindness and His love.
Psalm 42 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before Him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying Where is this God of yours? My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of great celebration. Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again--my Savior and my God. Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember You--even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as Your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing His songs, praying to God who gives me life. "O God my rock," I cry, " Why have You forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?" Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, "Where is this God of yours?" Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again--my Savior and my God!
Psalm 43 Declare me innocent, O God! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust liars. For you are God, my only safe haven. Why have you tossed me aside? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies? Send out Your light and Your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to Your holy mountain, to the place where Your live. There I will go to the altar of God, to God--the source of all my joy. I will praise You with my harp, O God, my God! Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again--my Savior and my God!
Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. God dwells in that city, it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God's voice thunders, and the earth melts! The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Come, see the glorious works of the Lord; See how He brings destruction upon the world. He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; He burns the shields with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world." The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.
Read and re-read these Psalms. Pray, meditate. God will hear you, He will speak with you, He will answer you, He will help you and take care of you. Trust Him, He is your helper. Hope in God. Speak the words, in your heart, in your mind, out loud: "I have hope in You Lord. I believe in You Lord. I lift my eyes up to You Lord. I know You are there for me. I know You will help me.
Search. Read the Bible's accounts of God's goodness, meditate on them. You will be blessed. You will come out of your depression.
Philippians 4:10-13 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn't have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in ever situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
Get priorities straight. Be grateful (and express it to God) for everything He has blessed me with. Concentrate, focus on the eternal God. To find true contentment means checking and changing my perspective, my priorities, my source of power. Look to God, seek Him.
From me.
It's all about God. So often we look around at our circumstances. What we don't or do have becomes bigger than Him. We magnify our alone-ness and minimize the truth that we are never alone. It's hard not to be with loved ones for holidays...no doubt. Sometimes we can feel alone in a crowd of people. But God never leaves us and never forsakes us. Meditating on Scripture....living in it, is the greatest healer. It can also help to help others. Get out of ourselves as it were. How about making a prayer list and just praying through it daily, maybe even more than once!! It's a way to help others even if you are stuck inside with no way to get out. I find when I focus less on me, and more on others, I am happier. Feeling lonely is a hard place, no matter how one gets there. But our Father wants us to know He sees, and He is with us...sometimes we just have to work a little to get that into our hearts.
My heart goes out to those who feel empty and lost and along Lord. I pray that You would wrap them in Your love and assure them of Your presence, today and everyday. Lord, we need You. Scoop up Your lonely children in Your arms. Let them know You are near. Heal their hearts. Lord, help them to take the steps they need to seek and sense Your presence and Your love. It's so hard when we feel so lost....but You are our light. Lord, sometimes all we can take are baby steps, sometimes it feels almost impossible to take any step at all...but I know You can meet us where we are. Please do that. People are hurting Lord. Your children are hurting. I hurt. Be our healer, our refuge and our fortress. In Jesus name, amen.
Go to the Scriptures today. Read and re-read, and re-read.
I am going to make a separate entry of Psalm 107. I love this Psalm because it tells of God's love in spite of the messes we get ourselves in, in spite of how life batters and bruises us...I pray that it, along with these other Psalms will help in some way. Truly, God's Word is our best medicine!
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