Feeling lonely?

Billy Graham once said that if you feel incredibly alone, even when with many friends, it is God crooking His finger and calling you to “Come here.”

Tozer describes it this way: “There is a spiritual loneliness, an inner aloneness, an inner place where God brings the seeker, where he is as lonely as if there were not another member of the Church anywhere in the world. Ah, when you come there, there is a darkness of mind, an emptiness of heart, a loneliness of soul, but it is preliminary to the daybreak. O God, bring us, somehow, to the daybreak!”

Tozer calls this coming a daybreak, a renewal, even an experience of “exploding love.” The best way he knows how to describe it is by this passage that describes that final and eternal meeting with Christ, where our hearts are fully satisfied as we enter His presence . . .

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.’ Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ‘I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.’ The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Revelation 22:12–17)

Those who have worked hard know the delight of being rewarded for their efforts (just as those who slacked off know the justice of no reward). Those who have been covered in filth and then washed and clothed in a freshly laundered garment know the joy of finally being clean. Those who have been deprived of water and are truly thirsty know the delight of pure, clean water trickling or pouring into their mouths. And those who belong to Jesus know the eager wonder in their hearts when they hear Him say “Come.”

We say it to each other. “Come to Jesus.” We know that all He offers is without price — for the price was paid at Calvary. Eternity with Jesus is ours. Anyone who is thirsty only needs to come.

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Jesus, my heart leaps for joy at Your invitation. You called “come” nearly fifty years ago and since then, every time I hear the echo of Your call, I shake my head in wonder, then nod my head to say, “I am here with you.” You keep blessing me and for this I am eternally grateful!

God goes much farther than a mere text message. . .

Today’s devotional passage describes that somber time when Jesus explains to His disciples that He is leaving them. I try to imagine what that would be like — a loss of His presence must have been a great grief to their minds and hearts, like saying goodbye to a dying spouse, or a son leaving for war.

This season, I have a new smart phone. I like email, but it has its limits. Texting is supposed to be the thing, but I’ve already realized it does not appeal to me very much. I’d rather phone those near to me or talk with them face-to-face. Call that old school, but verbal conversations offer an intimacy that electronics does not.

The problem changes with distance. Separation is difficult, even with our modern communications of telephone, Skype and texting. When this happens to me with family or friends, the fear that communication will also be severed compounds my sorrow. We need people. I need people. I need family and friends.

Sadly, a recent survey shows nearly half those needing counselling say they prefer it done by texting. They don’t want to talk to anyone. I’m concerned for those who isolate themselves, particularly those who isolate themselves to keyboards only. I’m convinced that a text message will never satisfy the human heart. For some, I suppose it is better than nothing, but it does not do what a real live voice can do.

This is what Jesus told His disciples on that sad day:

“But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:4–7)

Tozer writes that, “The Holy Spirit came to carry the evidence of Christianity from the books of apologetics into the human heart.” While I agree that the Holy Spirit takes the words of theologians and puts them into our hearts, I also now realize He does the same with His own words!

The Word of God could be considered like a text message. It is what God says to us in written form. However, He knew that would not be sufficient. The frenzy today to communicate with text messages only increases because it is not satisfying. It is insufficient. We need a voice, a real live voice.

Jesus knew that. He was not going to leave His people with just a text — as marvelous as that text is to us. He sent the real live voice of the Holy Spirit, who carries the words of Jesus into our hearts. The reality of this truth brings me such joy that I am weeping.

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Dear Lord, You think of everything. You know the human heart, our universal need for someone close, who understands and comforts, who never leaves or forsakes us. What a blessing to have the Holy Spirit in my heart. He points to You. He helps and comforts me. His name means ‘one who draws alongside.’ Even though You are no longer here in the flesh, the Holy Spirit clearly brings Your presence into my life as a living, real life voice, a reality like no other!

Universal loneliness has a universal solution . . .

Billy Graham is reported to have said that when a person feels lonely in a crowd, that is God whispering, “Come to Me.”

Every person experiences loneliness, regardless of culture, social standing, and even if people are all around us. Yes, I can be alone for days and be content, but I can be in a room full of people as well — and feel alone.

Regardless of that feeling, sometimes we are literally alone. It was true for Paul who experienced desertion, opposition, and rejection, but he knew that he was never alone. He wrote to a young pastor named Timothy:

“Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:9–18)

The Lord promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) Paul knew this. He had been abandoned, but he knew that he was never alone.

I know it too. Someone wrote that God can be compared to the atmosphere around us. It is always there, as is the God who promises to be always there. When I think about the presence of the Lord in that way, I feel the slight pressure of Him near me, all around me. He stands by me and knowing He is here is a source of strength and comfort that even the closest of friends cannot give.

He makes other promises too. He is for me — always on my side. He takes care of my needs, defends me, and prays for me . . .

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31–39)

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Jesus, nothing can separate me from Your love, and nothing can separate me from You. You are always with me, through good times and trials. I can depend on You when everyone and everything else proves unreliable. You are my hiding place, filling me with songs of deliverance whenever I am afraid, or lonely, or alone. Nothing can take You away from me!