We Need Never To Feel Lonely

"Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted."

Psalm 25:16 (NLT)

Yesterday when I went for my walk, I saw five male Mallard ducks and one male goose congregating together near the shore while, most likely, their hens were hidden away on the island caring for their newly hatched babies. The five drakes and the one gander sure looked lonely and bored without their mates. I felt sorry for them.

Loneliness is a like a gaping whole in the heart. It leaves one feeling empty. It robs one of joy and happiness. Even in a midst of a crowd of people, the haunting feeling of loneliness can remain. It is a war within that many people battle with.

Many things can cause loneliness: no family support, a divorce, rejection, the death of a loved one, a failed relationship, the loss of a job, an uncaring and unfriendly church, a debilitating illness, a husband or wife who must travel and be away from home, a move to a new location, and so on.

Even Jesus felt the pain and suffering of loneliness. He felt it when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane and when He was being tortured and nailed to a Cross. He understands.

Jesus doesn't want any of us to ever feel the affliction and depression of loneliness. That is why we have His precious Holy Spirit who comes to reside within us when we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour. The Bible says that God is with us always — not sometimes, or most of the time, but always.

"And be sure of this:

I am with you always,

even to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:20 (NLT)

We can be certain that no matter what happens in our world or in our individual lives, God will be with us to the very end. We need never to feel lonely.