Five Minute Friday - Lonely

It's Five Minute Friday time again!  Today's prompt is Lonely.

This word, lonely, invokes so many emotions for me.  Through the roller coaster of life, I've gone through feeling lonely, even with a crowd of people around me.  At times, I've withdrawn when I've felt like a burden or a sympathy case, leading to more loneliness.  Still others, I press through and see the growth that takes place in me when God separates me for a time with Him.

Lonely is being an 11 year old girl to a new school when all the other kids have grown up together and have deep bonds.

Lonely is being a boy who deals with debilitating OCD, when the term OCD was not known by many outside the medical community, unlike it is now.

Lonely is being with a group of friends and believing you are the oddball, the one that stands out for all the wrong reasons.

Lonely is knowing your friends are getting together without you, often.

Lonely is being a mom of a child who has meltdowns in front of people over seemingly minor things, or the mom of a child who hits instead of using his words.  

Lonely is believing no one else is like you, or that no one really likes the real you because you don't feel comfortable showing them the real you.  

I've felt those times of loneliness for one reason or another.  My husband has felt it.  I believe we all go through times of loneliness, and grow through times of loneliness.  The one thing that remains consistent, even through times of natural loneliness, is that God is always present.  He fills those voids and heals our hurts.  I've been through some of the lonely times listed above.  

Psalm 38:9  "O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you."

God is not blind to our needs for interaction, and our need to love and be loved.  We set our lives before Him, and He grows us up, leads us and directs us through the murky waters of loneliness.  It's through these times that we lean hard on Him.  It's through these times that we learn and grow in Him.  

Friend, I have been lonely at times, and I know how gut-wrenching it can be to feel misunderstood, alone and desperate.  Let me encourage you, you are NOT alone.  God is always there, His arms always open to love on us and fill our every need.  When our eyes are focused on Him, they are not focused on us, which means they are not focused on our immediate need for understanding from another human being, but rather understanding from a loving God.

Father, I thank you for filling us with your love, peace and joy.  Thank you for loving us unconditionally, redeeming us fully and providing for our every need, spirit, soul and body! Father God, I pray that you meet us where we are, seek out those lonely hearts and provide for them the healing and comfort they need through the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus Name, Amen!