When You Are Lonely God Is Lonely For You

“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.”

“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

“If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”

“Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”

Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.

“I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.

“In a little while the world will see Me no longer, but you will see Me.Because I live, you will live too. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you. The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it You’re going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”

Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.The one who doesn’t love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me.

“I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. You have heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father,because the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over Me. On the contrary, I am going away so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do.

“Get up; let’s leave this place.
-John 14


Photo: pixabay
It was the one night a week that I arrive home to an empty house.  I had been busy doing some yard work before dark and was now preparing dinner and was about to watch a movie.  Then, I had this moment where I sensed the Lord's presence.

I suddenly had this revelation, a thought, idea, or impression; that every time that I am alone is a special time when the Lord is with me.  The Lord actually enjoys, desires time alone with me.  Those times when I feel like I don't have someone for fellowship, friendship, or community; are times when God is completely available and wants to be with me.

Did you know that God is lonely for you?  When you are lonely, God is lonely for you.

The idea I got was that, those times when I am alone are actually special times that I have in my life when I get to lean into the Lord and be with him.  Yes, the Lord is with me also when I am with others, but there is something different when I am alone.  It is like loneliness is there and the Lord fills it with the opposite.

He takes the (potential) sadness of loneliness and turns it around and gives me comforting fellowship.  When you are lonely, God is lonely for you.

All I have to do is turn to the Lord.  It is so easy, in loneliness, to turn on the tv, the radio, or look at the computer or handheld device.  When I do those things, the Lord is still there, but I do not have undivided fellowship with him.

He waits for me to turn to him.  I can turn to him all the time or none of the time and his love is unconditional.  I am the one who misses out, when I do not turn to the Lord.

Another aspect of my revelation, impression, or "ah-ha, I get it" moment; is that all the lonely times in my life are opportunities, blessings, or gifts; of being able to commune and have close times with God.  I could say, "why do you have me alone at all these times and places?", and feel self-pity and feel cheated of human relationships.  But I get it that in each of those lonesome times, the Lord is wanting to enjoy time with me.

The Lord is Emmanuel, "God with us" (Matt. 1;23).  The incarnation is a wonderful and powerful part of God's story.  Jesus promised also, "I will be with you" (Matt. 28:20).

I believe that the lonelier you are, the more lonely or lonesome your circumstances are, that the greater blessing is in store for you from the Lord.  You just have to turn to the Lord and let him love you.

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