“For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” - 1 Corinthians 6:20
Loneliness came to mind this evening, a word I haven’t thought much about, I’m not sure that I knew how to define the word, so I looked it up, and according to Merriam-Webster it’s described as “being without company, cut off from others, not frequented by human beings, sad from being alone, producing a feeling of bleakness or desolation.”
This brought me to Job and how he had no idea why he was going through so much loss and health issues all at once. Here are Job’s words, “He has removed my brothers far from me, my acquaintances are completely estranged from me, my relatives have failed, and my intimate friends have forgotten me…” - Job 19:13-14 (NASB).
In the next verses, Job continued to explain his alienation from those within his household, including his wife. In the depth of such loneliness his response in verse 25 amazed me, “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last He will take a stand on earth.” Job’s heart and mind went straight to the Lord.
Looking deeper into “Loneliness” I saw that David’s words were similar in Psalm 31:11-12, “Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends-those who see me on the street flee from me. I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.” I am almost speechless by how Job and David must have felt, yet, like Job, David’s heart went straight to the Lord in vs 14 when he said, “But I trust in You, LORD; I say, 'You are my God.'”
I have experienced loneliness, not fully aware of what I was feeling. Can you relate to Job or David? If so, does your heart rebound toward God, our Redeemer?
Heavenly Father, thank you for sharing the heart of Job and David in Your word. Thank you that Your life paid the price for our redemption. Thank you that You want our hearts turned toward You. May we remember that You are our rock and the God Most High is our Redeemer. - Psalm 78:35
This devotion by author, Terrie Miles, is exclusively and solely shared with permission to New Beginnings Church. Any unauthorized printed reproduction, sharing or use of this material is prohibited.
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