1997-08-30 - No Call Waiting or Busy Signals
Something most of us have dealt with at one time or another, is loneliness. We humans need relationships with each other; God built us that way. Babies that are deprived of human touch are victims of the "failure to thrive" syndrome. God's devoted servant David, one of the Psalmists, poured out his lonely feelings to God:
Psa 25:16 (NRSV) Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
God does not intend for us to remain lonely. He is ALWAYS available to us. When we call on God, we never get put on hold for call waiting. We never get a busy signal. He says He will NEVER forsake us, never:
Deu 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.” (The Revised Standard Version)
We can come to Him with our worries or hurts at any time. In fact, He wants us to bring them to us. Imagine--the Creator of the Universe cares about our needs, our desires, our pains.
1 Pet 5:7 Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you. (The Revised Standard Version)
In addition, planned that Christians would be like family to each other, supporting and encouraging each other.
1 Th 3:2 (NIV) We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.1 Th 5:11 (NIV) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
We are not meant to bear emotional pain alone.
Rom 12:15 (NRSV) Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
If you know someone who is lonely, offer a listening ear to them; pray that God will use you to help them. If you are lonely, seek out Christians in your local church. We are in this thing called the Christian life, together.
Dear Father, help us all to turn to You for all our needs. Thank you for providing family and friends. Please bring the lonely together with people who will be like families to them. Help us to remember we are family. In Jesus' name, amen.