It’s a simple reality of being the one left to continue living when the other half of us has gone.
The knowing of someone else so deeply and the being known; ahhhh, I miss it so.
Whether we are standing in a crowd or sitting in the privacy of our bedroom; the attacks of loneliness feel just the same. We didn’t just lose our spouses. We lost dreams of our future and the comradery of joint memories from our past. It is such a unique aloneness to experience.
What I find as the days progress is that the loneliness doesn’t seem to care about the boundaries I’ve tried to place on it. It creeps around barriers and seeps its way into all the crevices of my shattered heart.
As the months continue, the loneliness morphs; sometimes it is still acute and breath-stealing, others it is a dull ache pulsing behind the backdrop of my life, and there are now, finally, moments I am completely free from its powerful grip.
So how do we cope with this pain? How do we choose to live victoriously amidst the ruins of a lonely life? Because ladies, I believe whole heartedly that God intends for us to live fulfilling lives. He desires for us to serve Him with gladness and live well this life we have been gifted with.
Once I truly identified loneliness for what it is, embraced the difficulty of the emotions and allowed the salty tears to roll unashamedly down my cheeks; that is when my healing began. I cried out to God and He answered me with the truths found in His Scriptures.
Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Matthew 28:20 And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
And here is where I’ve landed, soaking in His grace and love for me.
Romans 8:35, 39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 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.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Sisters, while it is true that we have lost the physical presence of our earthly love, we can never lose the affection of our Father God. Do you hear that? We can NEVER lose the love of God. Nor can we shake His presence. {Deep sigh of relief.} Our feelings of loneliness are very real, but they cannot always be trusted. God’s holy Word is where we must place our trust.
We are never alone in our loneliness.
Will you open yourself up for Him to minister to your heart today? He is a God of limitless creativity. He loves you extravagantly and individually. Commit your mind to Him this morning. Hand Him the depths of your heart for safe keeping.
Give Him your all and watch Him transform the overbearing loneliness into something to be used for His glory.
Friends, we are here for a season and for a reason. Let's dig deep into His Word and find comfort right where we are.
Oh, how He loves you.
