Have you ever felt lonely? I imagine everyone has felt it at some point in their lives. To be honest I struggle with it more than I care to admit. Sometimes the loneliness is short lived and other times it is a lengthy battle. I know I am losing when I hear the Enemy whispering lies and I begin wondering if there is any truth in them.
Lies such as:
- Your friends have forgotten about you.
- You are not needed.
- Protect your heart, and keep others at a distance.
- No one else feels the loneliness you do.
- You are all alone.
Has the Enemy whispered similar lies to you?
When we are in a state of loneliness, the suffocation of it can prevent us from fighting. We fall limp at the feet of the Enemy hoping for a glimmer of light from God to strengthen us.
During one of my battles of loneliness, I went before the Lord and pleaded for His help. I asked for His light to shine in my darkness. I needed to hear His truth about my situation, feelings, thoughts, and fears. I went to Him because He has never lied to me and He can be trusted.
He led me to the book of Psalms 62-63. As my eyes fell upon Psalms 62:10 my heart sank deep within.
“Do not trust in oppression.”
The Mariam Webster dictionary describes oppress as a sense of being weighed down in body or mind: depression an oppression of spirits
It was clear to me that I was trusting the whispers of defeat, despair, and desolation. But the battle between my heart and mind raged as they conflicted one another.
Then the Lord drew my eyes back up to Psalms 62:8
“Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.”
As I began pouring my heart out to God and choosing to trust Him, rather than in my oppression, something began to happen. His light began to overpower my darkness. The battle between my heart and thoughts were beginning to properly align.
However, there was one more step He led me to take.
The step was found in Psalms 63:3
“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.”
I craved His lovingkindness because this life was feeling bleak. I knew I was to praise Him not just within my heart and mind, but out-loud. This sounds like a simple action step, but when we are in despair, depressed, and lonely it can feel like a daunting task. At first, my words came out as a mumble. However, the more I spoke of His glory, might, power, and majesty I became overwhelmed by His presence with stronger pronunciation.
My loneliness had invited God to join me for company. The battle was won because God heard my praise and my cry for help! My breathing became deeper, thoughts clearer, and eyes brighter. The truth was prevailing and my trust was no longer in my oppression but in almighty God.
Are you in need of His presence? Praise Him out-loud.
Are you in need of His power? Trust Him to do what He says He can do.
Are you in need of His truth? Go to His word and let the truth set you free.
The next time we sense the darkness of loneliness crouching over us, let’s be quicker to turn to God and praise Him. Praise Him with a LOUD voice, because the Enemy cannot withstand our praise to the God of gods, Lord of lords, and King of kings. There is power in His name!
Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
John 14:16 – I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever.
