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Loneliness. When you're feeling it deeply, it hurts to even see the word. You want to tell somebody how lonely you are, but you're afraid to voice it. If you tell someone and that person doesn't understand or care, you'll only feel more lonely. People might even wonder what's wrong with you if you don't have lots of friends who care.

Human friendship and love can be fickle. Even your most loyal friends get distracted by their own concerns and neglect you. But God has promised he'll never leave you. In Christ he has committed himself to you forever. His Spirit lives with you and is even in you. You may not always have the comfort of a human presence, but you have the assurance of God's presence always.

Allow God to comfort you in your loneliness. Admit your feelings and trust yourself, physically and emotionally, to him. Give up any bitterness toward people who have neglected you. Paul mercifully said of the people who deserted him, "May it not be charged against them" (4:16). Talk honestly with God and listen to him, for as long as it takes, until his comfort fills your lonely places. (See also Psalm 22; Psalm 68:4-6; Matthew 26:36-46; Revelation 3:20-22.)

Good Words to Remember:
At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me …. But the Lord stood with me …. To him be glory forever and ever. 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Today's Challenge:
Instead of keeping yourself so busy you don't have to think about your loneliness, why not admit it and seek God's comfort today?

Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.

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