A
I have one good friend, one best friend and her younger sister who I am acquainted with. I have my biological family who are all backslidden Christians, my church family of fifteen people and have no significant other in my life. But I feel rich. My heart is always bustling with leaps and butterflies.
Before I came back to Christ, I used to be part of the 'progressive metal' scene and had so many of these 'friends'. But even though I was surrounded by them, I felt completely and utterly alone. I had no shortage of people to catch up with through out the week, but they weren't the kind of people I could completely lean on. When I rededicated my life back to God, I then cut these people from my life because I knew that if I was to be in their lives, I would stumble back in to my old life style. I went from surrounded to what seemed like a self-inflicted life of isolation. But it only seemed that way. Now, I feel like I have forgotten the meaning of 'lonely'.
The first time purposefully 'hung' out with Jesus, I was out doing Christmas shopping. I asked Him to help me find gifts for my family. I remember scrunching my hand as I walked down the aisles, knowing He was there holding it tightly. At that time, I needed a husband to keep me company and to be there next to me. It sounds crazy, but He was there, every fibre of my body felt Him assisting me in such an insignificant moment of my life. But it wasn't insignificant to Him, I felt my heart do summersaults and I felt so completely giddy.
Another time, I was lying in bed and I felt so tired from the stresses of life. I work with children, and I remember that certain morning, a little boy lifted up his hands to me and motioned to be picked up. Once in my arms, he completely slumped and lazily observed the world around him. I wanted more than anything, in that moment of frustration as I laid in bed, to be in a father figure's arms, completely slumped and to be cradled. I imagined Jesus being this ten foot figure, cradling me. Usually, I imagine the Lord being this mighty King figure, but for some reason, I had this vision in my mind that was unlike how I usually see Him. I saw Jesus squeeze His arms around my neck tightly, and He snuggled me and shook me side to side in a comical, cheesy embrace, and he was laughing as He did so. A supernatural warmth spread through my heart in that moment. My stress melted away and I spread my arms out, wanting to go deeper in His embrace.
The Lord is our everything. He is a Husband to the widows, and a Father to the fatherless. He sent the Holy Spirit to be our comforter. His love and grace is more than enough.
On another note, yes were designed to be social beings. We were made in the image and likeness of God. God, being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, are three part in perfect relationship with each other. Several times I've had to pray for the veil to be taken off my eyes because I had my church family around me, loving me, but I couldn't 'see' it. I was still screening my world from the eyes of a hurt, little girl. But we need church family, we need people we can be accountable to, and we need people we can do 'life' with.
I would pray about it if you feel emotionally disconnected and divided from the people around you. Our enemy's mission is to divide and conquer, and sometimes that means dividing the church and the Christian brethren in a mental or emotional state. I used to think, "I'm emotionally retarded", "I don't know how to love people well", "I'm too introverted for my own good" or, "If I get too close, I'll just end up hurting everyone". I learnt very quickly that I started believing those lies and empowering the master of all lies and I separated myself from the people trying to reach me.
So, I can understand how loneliness is deadly. God said that He would never leave us nor forsake us, so if we say we're alone, we're slapping God in the face and saying that the Bible is a lie. Not only that, but it is an open door for Satan to come in to our lives and to devour. Hasn't Satan taken enough of our joy? Aren't you tired of your joy been taken away from you? Cry out to God from the deepest part of you soul and He will hear and He will answer.
Before I came back to Christ, I used to be part of the 'progressive metal' scene and had so many of these 'friends'. But even though I was surrounded by them, I felt completely and utterly alone. I had no shortage of people to catch up with through out the week, but they weren't the kind of people I could completely lean on. When I rededicated my life back to God, I then cut these people from my life because I knew that if I was to be in their lives, I would stumble back in to my old life style. I went from surrounded to what seemed like a self-inflicted life of isolation. But it only seemed that way. Now, I feel like I have forgotten the meaning of 'lonely'.
The first time purposefully 'hung' out with Jesus, I was out doing Christmas shopping. I asked Him to help me find gifts for my family. I remember scrunching my hand as I walked down the aisles, knowing He was there holding it tightly. At that time, I needed a husband to keep me company and to be there next to me. It sounds crazy, but He was there, every fibre of my body felt Him assisting me in such an insignificant moment of my life. But it wasn't insignificant to Him, I felt my heart do summersaults and I felt so completely giddy.
Another time, I was lying in bed and I felt so tired from the stresses of life. I work with children, and I remember that certain morning, a little boy lifted up his hands to me and motioned to be picked up. Once in my arms, he completely slumped and lazily observed the world around him. I wanted more than anything, in that moment of frustration as I laid in bed, to be in a father figure's arms, completely slumped and to be cradled. I imagined Jesus being this ten foot figure, cradling me. Usually, I imagine the Lord being this mighty King figure, but for some reason, I had this vision in my mind that was unlike how I usually see Him. I saw Jesus squeeze His arms around my neck tightly, and He snuggled me and shook me side to side in a comical, cheesy embrace, and he was laughing as He did so. A supernatural warmth spread through my heart in that moment. My stress melted away and I spread my arms out, wanting to go deeper in His embrace.
The Lord is our everything. He is a Husband to the widows, and a Father to the fatherless. He sent the Holy Spirit to be our comforter. His love and grace is more than enough.
On another note, yes were designed to be social beings. We were made in the image and likeness of God. God, being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, are three part in perfect relationship with each other. Several times I've had to pray for the veil to be taken off my eyes because I had my church family around me, loving me, but I couldn't 'see' it. I was still screening my world from the eyes of a hurt, little girl. But we need church family, we need people we can be accountable to, and we need people we can do 'life' with.
I would pray about it if you feel emotionally disconnected and divided from the people around you. Our enemy's mission is to divide and conquer, and sometimes that means dividing the church and the Christian brethren in a mental or emotional state. I used to think, "I'm emotionally retarded", "I don't know how to love people well", "I'm too introverted for my own good" or, "If I get too close, I'll just end up hurting everyone". I learnt very quickly that I started believing those lies and empowering the master of all lies and I separated myself from the people trying to reach me.
So, I can understand how loneliness is deadly. God said that He would never leave us nor forsake us, so if we say we're alone, we're slapping God in the face and saying that the Bible is a lie. Not only that, but it is an open door for Satan to come in to our lives and to devour. Hasn't Satan taken enough of our joy? Aren't you tired of your joy been taken away from you? Cry out to God from the deepest part of you soul and He will hear and He will answer.
