Week of 21 May: Loneliness

This week in class we talked about loneliness. All of us, from time to time, experience loneliness. We feel like we are all alone, on our own, with no one on whom to depend. Asaph, one of the psalmists, expressed these feelings in Psalm 73. We looked specifically at verses 21-26:


(21) When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
(22) I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
(23) Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
(24) You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
(25) Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
(26) My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

We were inspired by this psalm and wrote our own poem about loneliness and how God can help us overcome it. It is in a haiku form.

"Strength"

Feeling in the dark,
The darkness overwhelmed me.
He opened my eyes.

By Cody G., Phillip W., Tana H., Joey G, and Mark C.



For this week's devotions, we will look more at these verses and other verses that can direct us when we are feeling lonesome.



Thursday: In the beginning of the verses, Asaph compares himself to "a brute beast." In other words, he doesn't even feel human anymore; he feels like an animal. Think about the differences between human beings and other animals. Animals are driven solely by their needs: their need for food, their need to produce offspring, their need to survive. Humans, on the other hand, are capable of self-control. Self-control, as we have talked about before, is one the gifts of the Spirit. When Asaph feels like an animal, he probably feels disconnected from the Lord, the giver of spiritual gifts. Have you ever felt like you weren't even a person? Like you were no more important than a dog? Take comfort in the fact that others feel this way, too, and remind yourself that you are more than just an animal: you were specially created by God in His image, designed to worship, serve, and love Him.



Friday: In verses 23-24, Asaph has to comfort himself with what he knows about God. He knows that the Lord is there with him, holding his hand, guiding him, and preparing a place for him in heaven. Despite the feelings that he expresses in verses 21-22, Asaph knows this to be true. Oftentimes, we are in a similar situation. We FEEL let down, abandoned, and alone, but we must remember that feelings can lie. God tells us that He will always be here with us, never forsaking us. No matter how we FEEL, we must trust in God and his holy Word, the Bible. This week, if you find yourself feeling down, pray that God will help you remember that despite any temporary feelings of despair, you KNOW that He is there with you as He was with Asaph.



Saturday: In verses 25-26, Asaph continues to reassure himself with God's promises. He recognizes that his heart (that's his feelings) and his flesh (that's his body) may fail, but God has promised to be with him always--now and in eternity. As christians, we have the same promise. God's love is never ending; someday we will join Him in heaven and stay there praising Him forever. Even in our worst moments in this lifetime, we have the reassurance of eternal salvation.

Sunday: See you at church!

Monday: To see how another famous psalmist experiences loneliness, read Psalm 142. It was written by King David and is only seven verses long. In this psalm, David expresses how much he needs the Lord when everyone else doesn't seem to care about him. Like Asaph, David calls the Lord his "portion." This word refers to a part of an inheritance. As children of God, we will all receive an inheritance from Him; our inheritance is unending love and an eternity with Him in heaven. Today, pray that God will help you separate your feelings (which change all the time) from what you know about Him (that He never changes and will always be there for you).

Tuesday: If you are experiencing loneliness, try this exercise. On a sheet of paper, write "I am lonely because..." Then, complete the sentence. Do this ten times (yes, ten). Now look at your list. Who do you blame for your loneliness? God? Other people? Yourself? Circumstances? Now, get out a new sheet of paper, and complete the sentence "With God's help I can..." ten times. Use your Bible. With God's help, nothing is impossible; we can overcome loneliness, sure in our knowledge of His presence. Pray that God would show Himself to you this week in your everyday life.

Wednesday: See you at church!