That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Cor 2:5)
Loneliness. Being isolated, by yourself, alone and lonely. Loneliness. Being with someone, or with a group of people, but feeling alone and lonely. What is it that God is trying to tell us through our loneliness?
Two major points to consider are as follows:
1/ Through Your Loneliness God Is Saying, “I’m Who You Need” (John 14:6)
Just like when I am water my garden, and saw all the plants growing in response to the life-giving water, all of our unmet desires, all of the un-remedied problems such as loneliness can be traced back to one singular act in the past.
Before Adam and Eve sinned, the human heart was completely satisfied by their perfect relationship with God. The longing for something we need we don’t have can be traced back to their sin. Our perfect union with God was broken, thus we feel lonely. This is why Jesus came. He didn’t ultimately come to heal our bodies, to give us great marriages, or desperately need to bring the chaos in our lives back to order. Jesus will do these things one way or the other, and say “peace be still” (Mark 4:39) both now or on the new earth. But ultimately, the gospel is about our hearts being restored in Christ so we can have a right relationship with our Heavenly Father once again. Only when we are satisfied in Jesus will we be satisfied at all. (1 Tim 6:6)
Happiness and belonging do not exist outside of the presence of Jesus. As Psalm 16:2 states, “I have no good apart from you.” (compare also John 14:6)
2/ Through Your Loneliness God Is Saying, “It Won’t Always Be This Way” (Jer 29:11, Jer 31:17)
While Jesus did come to heal the brokenhearted, Luke 4:18)Scripture is also clear that while we live on this broken planet, there will always be some unmet longings in our hearts. Because everything is not yet perfected as it will be one day, there will always be some loneliness and discontentment in our souls. (Psalms 102:7)
Through the “everlasting gospel” (Rev 14:6-7) we have the certainty of redemption and satisfaction that our future is friendly. But there is more than we could ever imagine to come:
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons and daughters of God, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:22-23).
Much of the loneliness we feel now is connected to our longing for the full redemption that is to come (2 Peter 3:9-10). Thus we agree with Revelation 22:20
“Those who testify to these things say, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
A very apparent solution to our being alone and lonely in Scripture is prayer:
“In one single quiet hour of prayer we will often make more progress than in days of company with others. It is in the desert that the dew falls freshest and the air is purest. (Andrew Bonar)”
Many of us have been taught that if we are experiencing dark times,that it “must be” that God is frowning down upon us. But where is the Bible evidence for that? Doesn’t God make it to rain on BOTH the just and the unjust? (see Mat 5:45) The message of this week’s devotional, is that nothing could be further from the truth. As always, the first place to understand this topic is the Bible. I found a text earlier this week that seems to reflect on the topic for this article in a surprising way. Here, in our opening text, the Psalmist is reflecting on how
“darkness is my closest friend.”
But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Why, LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me? From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair. Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me. You have taken from me friend and neighbor—darkness is my closest friend. (Psalms 88:13–18,NIV)
But how can this be, we may ask? Why does the Psalmist say that
“darkness is my closest friend?” (Psalms 88:18)
It is precisely because of the part that “Faith” plays in the Christian’s life that the darkest night of our lives can be termed as “the night of faith.” (1 Thes 3:10)
Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:(Amos 5:8)
I have had such nights. On the dark night, my extreme sense of dislocation, injustice, and absurdity is prominent;(sometimes called “cognitive dissonance). According to “the everlasting gospel,” (Rev 14:6-7), human reasoning alone cannot cope with, nor explain the infilling of Jesus during the night of faith and darkness. Bible prophecy informs that the whole world is about to experience this terrible “night of faith.”
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Rev 3:10)
In the opening text for today, I think that the Psalmist may have felt that any delight which he used to feel in prayer has been evaporated by the winds of change, strife, disappointments and trials. Perhaps the sweet certainty of God’s Presence that he used to feel in prayer no longer exists, and he is expressing that because no new way of praying has yet happened. Nowadays we vaguely sense the call to prayer, but we can no longer decline or answer the call. We cannot find a credible way to bring about the meeting with Jesus in prayer. Our faith being co-opted by the cares of this world. (Luke 8:14, Luke 21:34)
Our former feelings of closeness to God no longer arise spontaneously to make our praying easy or enjoyable. Many of us have fallen into thinking that we are standing before a God who is hidden and who does not want to communicate with us. Truly, this “night of faith” is but the beginning of serious, heart-felt contemplation, where we seemingly can find no way out of this stifling fog that has arisen in our sphere, to immobilize us; and hide every familiar landmark or sign that we thought was God’s indication of favor when we prayed.
The thick darkness,(Exodus 20:21) seems so impenetrable,claustrophobic, and impossible. We stoically concede that it “must be” unanswered prayer. (so called). If we examine more closely what the Christian must see and believe regarding their night of faith, and ow to navigate the thick darkness, we may find the way around that darkness is to charge right into it as Moses demonstrated:
“And the people stood afar off and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.” (Exodus 20:21).
Here we see that GOD was/and is right inside that “thick darkness.” Moses went charging right into “the thick darkness” to meet God right there! Moses did not wait for God to not be shrouded in darkness! This is another reason why I keep saying:
“there is light in every cloud.”
The Light of Christ is never daunted by darkness, or human failure. (Psalms 139:12) I have trouble understanding why some churches or individuals seem so fixated on the mark of the beast stuff when they yatter about what they call “end time prophecy.” Those very prophecies really only mention such ideas just a few times, almost parenthetically, We have certain preachers gibbering about “the beast” and “666” or the Pope so much that there is no room to talk about what we are really going to need during the time of the final crises, where “no one can buy or sell” unless they have this “mark” of the beast power as described in the book of Revelation.
Today’s most popular preachers, just like modern/secular “news media” so called that broadcasts a fear based message make no difference now between the holy and the unholy. Modern Christian Gurus widely admired for their clever gimmicks and falsehoods are stuck on detailing by the same worldly tactics of F.E.A.R. that a certain denomination is behind all of the beast’s activities. But there is really no need to go there most times when we talk about prophecies. Because BIBLE prophecy is primarily about Jesus. prophecy is about the cross! Prophecy is NOT History, except in the context that it is related to by HIS Story! If the Bible doesn’t have its main emphasis on all the scary stuff then why do we?
All one would need for the fearful part of the message is the last verse of Revelation 17
“And the woman which thou saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.” (Rev 17:18).
It’s not hard for anyone, Christian or not, to know what/who this one text is talking about. There is only one city in all of the earth that meets this qualification of also being a “country.” But this is certainly not ever intended to be the main emphasis of “the message.”
We could really stand to learn what God’s desire for us is during the “time of Jacob’s trouble,” (Jer 30:7), or any during other times of trouble and folly by closely examining what the Bible prophets did, how they responded,during those times when they wrote out the prophecies the dreadful circumstances they endured. Daniel is one of the best examples that I can think of.
Most, when they read Daniel 8-9 seem to always drift into talking about “the beast” or the “mark” of said beast. Yet Daniel had a response to the death decree of his day that is most enlightening. If you read Dan 9 you will see that Daniel learned to pray (Understand The Visionhttps://lightintheclouds.org/?s=understand+the+vision) during a very dark period when his own and the lives of all believers with him were under threat of death for not obeying the edicts to worship false Gods. The same kinds of things will happen to God’s people during “the time of the end.” Are we ready for that kind of darkness? (Rev 3:10) Do we want to be a Daniel during times like that? (Dan 6:10)
Are You Worried About “The Final Crises?”
Are you worried by personal crises? Or concerned/perplexed about “final events?” Take some lessons from Daniel and other Bible characters and their prayers as recorded in your Bible. Learn to pray. Make prayer your personal first response to the dark cloud that is over you, as did the prophets of old.
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. The eye of faith will discern God very near, and the suppliant may obtain precious evidence of the divine love and care for them.
But why is it that so many prayers are never answered?
Truth is, prayers are always answered. Sometimes, we just don’t like the answer. Here are a few possibilities:
1/ You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires. (James 4:3, AMP)
2/ David says, “I cried unto Him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” [Psalm 66:17,18.]
3/ By another prophet the Lord gives us the promise, “Ye shall seek me, and and you shall find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.”
[Jeremiah 29:13]
4/ Again, he speaks of some who “have not cried unto me with their heart.” [Hosea 7:14.]
5/ There are certain conditions upon which we may expect that God will hear and answer our prayers. One of the first of these is that we feel our need of help from Him. The heart must be open to the Spirit’s influence, or God’s blessing cannot be received.
6/ Another element of prevailing prayer is faith. Jesus said to His disciples, “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24).
When we do not receive the very things we asked for, at the time we ask, we are still to believe that the Lord hears and that He will answer our prayers. When our prayers seem not to be answered,we are to cling to the promise anyway; for the time of answering will surely come, and we shall receive the blessing we need most.
This is why God’s answer to prayer is sometimes different than what we ask. At times,He may say “no,” or “yes,” or “wait,” or “maybe.” Prayer is always answered. Just not the way that we sometimes expect or demand it in our prayers.
7/ God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly: “For Jehovah God is a sun and shield; Jehovah will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalms 84::11, MKJV).
8/ He who turns his ear away from listening to the law [of God and man], Even his prayer is repulsive [to God] (Pro 28:9, AMP). see also John 7:17
9/ “Surely God will not listen to an empty cry [which lacks trust]. Nor will the Almighty regard it.” (Job 35:13, AMP).
10/ The prayer which Nathanael offered while he was under the figtree,came from a sincere heart, and it was heard and answered in an expected way by the Master. Christ said of him:
“Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” [John 1:47.] compare Rev 14:5
Only Jesus reads the hearts of all, and understands their motives and purposes:
“The prayer of the upright is his delight.” [Proverbs 15:18] He will not be slow to hear those who open their hearts to him, and not exalting self, but sincerely feeling their great weakness, their urgent need, and unworthiness.
11/ Of Christ it is said: “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly” (Luke 22:44). In what contrast to this intercession by the Majesty of heaven are the feeble, heartless prayers that are offered to God. Many are content with lip service, and but few have a sincere, earnest, affectionate longing after God.
12/ The presence of Christ alone can make men and women happy.–AH 28. Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend.–SC 93.
Truly, there is nothing more calculated to energize the mind and strengthen the intellect than the study of the Word of God. {PM 292.1}
In God’s will alone is found true peace, and assurance. We can face any trial, any crises, by turning it into an opportunity to pray aright. God says through the prophet Isaiah:
“come let us reason TOGETHER,” (Isa 1:18)
This shows us that God desires to work with us at the point of our felt needs through the power and miracle of prayer. As an example:
It is quite remarkable that the most brilliant colors of plants are to be seen on the highest mountains, in spots that are most exposed to the wildest weather. The brightest lichens and mosses, the loveliest gems of wild flowers, the brightest, most beautiful colors,all abound far up on the bleak, storm-scalped peak. One of the richest displays of structured coloring I ever saw was near the summit of a mountain in Jasper. The whole face of an extensive rock was covered with a most vivid yellow, orange and white lichen which shone in the sunshine like something displayed to bless those aspiring to reach the top. There, in that lofty region, amid the most frightening, isolated desolation, exposed to the fiercest tempest of the sky, the lichen and alpine flowers exhibited a glory of color such as they never showed below in the sumptuous, sheltered valley.
Is it not so with the Christian who is afflicted, tempest-tossed,and not comforted? Till the storms and fluctuations of God’s providence beat upon them again and again, their character and their experience may appear marred and clouded; but the trials clear away the obscurity, perfect the outlines of the believer’s disposition, and give brightness and blessing to their life, and to those around them. And that is “the true witness.” (Rev 3:14) that there is Light in the clouds.
“Christ in you, THE hope in glory.” (Col 11:27) Christ is our Light. (John 8:12)
May your personal prayer life be animated in Christ and direct you into the patient waiting on new paths that bring you closer to Jesus, is my prayer, in Jesus’s name.
Like Jesus, like the Psalmist, darkness can be our friend and ally during the “final crises” (Rev 3:10). Our God is right in there,awaiting your petitions. As Moses showed us, we can rightly and safely walk right into the darkness, because God is there. Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us. But these are not enough; we need also to pour out our hearts to Jesus. In order to have spiritual life and energy, we must have actual relationship and two-way communication with our Heavenly Father. Our minds may be drawn out toward Him; we may meditate upon His works, His mercies, His blessings; but this is not, in the fullest sense, communing with Him.
In order to commune with God, we must have something to say to Him concerning our actual life. {SC 93.1} Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. {SC 93.2} When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us.(SC 93:3)
Prayer is communion with God. It is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among us, was often in prayer. Prayer went before and sanctified every act of His ministry. It was by prayer that He was braced for duty and for trial. He is a brother in our infirmities, “in all points tempted like as we are;” but as the sinless One, His nature recoiled from evil
He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. And if the Savior of men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer.
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21::36)