Deuteronomy 31:6
Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Fear, loneliness, and depression are the symptoms, not the disease.
Genesis 3:23-24
23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
We were created to be in relationship with God. Adam and Eve enjoyed a right relationship with God and each other at home in the garden, where God provided for all their needs. When they disobeyed Him by choosing to be the ones who decided what was right and wrong for their own lives, they had to leave the garden and got lost in the wilderness. Humanity has been homesick ever since. Blaise Pascal put it this way. “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made know through Jesus Christ.” No relationship, success, experience, or drug is going to fill that God shaped vacuum in our hearts that God created for himself. He wants us to know him and experience his life transforming presence.
2 Timothy 4:16-18
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever.
Paul fought against persecution as he shared the gospel. Even his friends deserted him when he needed them the most. But, because of his strong relationship with the Lord, he was able to stand strong during extreme adversity. We were made to have a personal relationship with Jesus. What we call loneliness is really being homesick for the Lord.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through these scriptures?
