Never Alone

Someone asked an interesting question recently. It was about being lonely. These are lonely times for many people. She asked, "What do you do when you're lonely?" My first thought was the standard Christian answer; I run to Jesus. As profound as that truth is, it’s still too pat of an answer for many people to truly digest.

Yes, Jesus does often fill me up with His Presence and at those times I'm in awe of Him. I don't feel lonely when I feel that closeness. But He also created us to be in close fellowship with other people. Yet, because of this pandemic, we're living in a time where that's more and more difficult.

And It's not just the pandemic that's keeping people apart. The toxic political atmosphere is driving a wedge between people. For some reason, during this time there is unprecedented anger between people that have opposing views. You may have friends and family that are angry at you because you don't fully agree on mask-wearing and other precautions to guard against coronavirus. Or they may be angry because you don’t agree with them on how to deal with the racial tension in our nation.

Many people are experiencing stress beyond the norm. Just yesterday a friend of ours was taken to the hospital because he has a bad case of COVID 19. The hospital ran tests and sent him home because their COVID wing was full. He’s being closely monitored by his wife who is recovering from COVID. They have 4 kids ranging in age from 5 to 12. Difficult times...

A few days ago my thirteen-year-old grandson was sent to the ER with severe abdominal pain. After cat scans, MRI's and ultrasounds the doctors still could not agree on what the problem was. Finally, a surgeon prevailed and they went in to take his appendix out which, thankfully, was exactly what was needed. During that time I babysat the other three kids ranging in age from 8 months up to 11. I was also trying to get ready for a visiting missionary family that was scheduled to stay with us for 5 nights. My house wasn’t ready and I didn’t have food yet to feed them. So between worrying about my grandson and stressing about getting ready for this family I was feeling more frazzled than usual. I just pressed on and did what I knew I had to do day-by-day, moment by moment and I finally got it done and now I can breathe easy.

But during times of feeling frazzled, I often don't feel the presence of Christ even though I know He's there. My mind is elsewhere. During those frazzled moments, whether caused by the pandemic, our political environment or ordinary, yet unexpected trials, if we could just pause a moment, take a deep breath and let ourselves see reality, most likely we would see our Lord there with arms outstretched and a smile on His face. He is closer than our very breath. He has it all under control and He is holding us through the storm.

The Bible says He is the “friend who sticks closer than a brother”. (Proverbs 18:24) Perhaps this is a time that we are to discover that truth. Whether we feel Him or not, He is there.

“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8)

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)