1-18-2015

Good Morning All,

         Deuteronomy 31:8; “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

   One of the worst experiences for us as humans is to feel all alone.  Many of our popular songs in some way or form lament about being alone.  It might be a country song or an old rock song, a folk song or a new modern song.  We worry about being alone.  For many, this is a great fear and anxiety; they fear ending up alone.  I know that numerous times I have spoken to older couples and each party wants to be the first to die.  It is not that they seek death but they would rather die than live alone.  It is difficult for us to live alone.

    We, as humans, are really social and gregarious creatures.  We seek companionship and fellowship.  It is how we were created.  God made man and then made woman so that they would have companionship together.  They would love together and, together, this bond would be the basic bond or building block for our society and civilization.  The need for this bond is what drives men and women to seek companionship, to be inclusive in our gatherings, and to look after those around us.  We seek companionship, love, acceptance, being valued and treasured.  These are all part of what it means to be human; to be the creatures that God created us to be.

     It is also one of our weaknesses that the devil and our sinful nature attempt to attack and exploit.  It usually occurs in tandem with another stressful or painful event in our life.  We may have lost a spouse and suddenly; we feel completely alone.  We may have lost a job or some other form of income and we are no longer able to be in our group of friends and now we are on the outside looking in and we feel alone.  We may have health issues which separate from the life we had and now we feel alone.  We feel we are facing the illness alone; we are facing a change in our life alone; we are facing each day without that person who had always been there and now we are alone.

    The devil takes stressful events, whispers in our ear, feeds our doubts and our uncertainties and with a practiced voice and meter begins to try and separate you from God.  He tries to lead you away from God’s family.  He fills your head with lies and your heart with anxiety.  He tells you that you are all alone and you fear and anxieties mount.  The lie is false; you are not alone God is with you but the anxiety and the fear are real; you feel the pain.

    So keep your eyes focused on God; he will not abandon you.  He will comfort you and he will use those around you to do so.  Seek them out; they will not abandon you.  God’s Spirit will move them to you.  Experience God’s grace; know that his love for you knows no bounds.  He will never abandon you or leave you alone.  When that fear or anxiety strikes, turn it over to God and he will restore you.

Father of all goodness; keep me in your loving arms.  Hold me tightly to your chest so that I may never know the pain of loneliness.  And when the devil lies to me, give me the reassurance of your loving grace.  Send to me you Spirit to keep me comforted. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret