Good morning, sweet friends!
Goodness, it is so wonderful to write to you.
Life has been very full lately! In the best way.
My sweet husband had elbow surgery yesterday, and he will be a little out of commission for a bit.
So, naturally, like any other Christmas-loving girl, I had him put up our Christmas tree before his surgery. :)
Yes, it is a little tiny bit early.
But, honestly, is it ever too early?
Asking for a friend.
As I was helping Lem eat a saltine cracker and drink a bit of water right after his surgery, my heart immediately thought about friends who no longer have their loving companions.
I thought about a few specific friends who are newly widowed and how much they would give to be able to feed their loved one a saltine cracker in a cold, sterile hospital room.
Loneliness is palpable.
If you have ever had a season of loneliness, it is heavy and dark. It feels like a heavy coat weighing you down, smothering the life out of you.
When we first moved here, I felt this from time to time.
My kids were no longer running in and out our door.
Every time I reached to grab plates for dinner, I was reminded of how much I missed them being here with us.
It was also lonely because I was new in this neighborhood. No one knew me, and I knew no one.
Several months into moving here, I wondered how I would fit in, or if I would fit in.
The days seemed so long, and so lonely at times.
It was the first time that I had ever felt true loneliness.
Being a people lover, and always desiring to be around people, it was a difficult time for sure.
That season opened my eyes to loneliness.
Now, I notice others that may be in times of loneliness.
I see now, what I never saw before.
This week, I have been reading through Psalm 139.
Several of the lines resonated so deeply…
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Psalm 139:1-6
What a comfort to know that God is always with us. Always!
We are never left alone.
He knows where we are at all times.
He even knows our thoughts!
He is familiar with everything about us.
Friend, no matter where you are right now, He is with you.
He will never leave you.
He can handle your tears, your pain, your loss, your grief, your anger, your sadness…
All of it.
He is your closest companion.
One thing that I have found that helps when I am in a season of loneliness, is praying and reaching out to others who may be lonely. Honestly, it is hard to do at times.
It is easier to focus on my own loneliness.
However, when I pray and reach out to someone else, God uses that to bring peace and healing to my heart.
It truly is incredible how God’s economy works.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (Luke 6:31)
Friend, if you are in a hard season of loneliness, please know Jesus sees you. He not only sees you, He is right beside you.
In these seasons, He will show you things that can only be seen in darkness.
And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness— secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name. Isaiah 45:3
I know this to be true, oh so true!
Nothing is wasted. He uses it all.
I love you, sweet friend.
reading Psalm 139 again and again,
jill
