Loneliness

Scripture

I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.

~142:4, NLT

Quote

While God is our constant help and refuge, people are not!

~Tremper Longman III

Psalm 142 is a lament written by David when he was in the cave of Adullman. He was alone. This was prior to anyone joining him. He had fled from Saul and was afraid to tell anyone where he was hiding. Perhaps he didn’t know who he could trust. At first reading of this Psalm, you wonder if David has not given in to self-pity. I know for a fact that I am prone to go in that direction when things don’t go my way. Of course I am just like the next person, I don’t want to hear the poor-pitiful-me confession unless it is coming from me. However, when you consider David’s circumstances, there has to be some pity. He was young {probably still a teenager}. He had been unjustly accused of treason. He was being hunted like an animal and his life was in jeopardy. When you are on the CIA’s and the FBI’s hit list, that is serious and enough to create anguish, stress and fear. In truth, Jonathan was a loyal friend and David’s family cared deeply about him but at the time David was uncertain.

Why is this Psalm in the Bible? Probably more reasons than I can imagine but one of them is to comfort and encourage us when we are feeling lonely. We all have our anxious moments when we wonder if anyone cares. Sometimes people don’t act like they care. They do not understand what is going on within us. They may not be aware of the anguish of our soul. Many people, as a way of protecting themselves, have a DO NOT DISTURB SIGN on their heart. This is why a relationship with Jesus is vital: He always cares no matter what the circumstances. His door is always open. I think of the old Methodist hymn, SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER:

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 
that calls me from a world of care, 
and bids me at my Father’s throne 
make all my wants and wishes known. 
In seasons of distress and grief, 
my soul has often found relief, 
and oft escaped the tempter’s snare 
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer.

This is not a put down but humans can’t always be relied on; Jesus can! Humans don’t always care; Jesus does!

Extra

People often asks me how I am doing and my response is ” I can’t complain and if I did it would be sin.” Is my life perfect? No, but I would say extremely blessed. It has nothing to do with wealth or success and everything to do with faith {Jesus}, family and friends. God is good and I thank Him for yesterday. It was refreshing. Rick and Doreen were with us yesterday morning at the POINT. Rick did the special music and it was special. He has a gift and a humility that communicates.

I have a ton of things on my to-do list and I am exctied about getting started. LORD willing we get our den carpeted today. I absolutely love our new pad, the walk-in shower, the entire nine yards. I love the porch and the unlimited garden space. June and I are thankful. We can have Sunday dinner right here on the compound and then I can go to my bedroom and rest.

One confession: I am always on to who ever uses the tractor—“Do not run it out of fuel…there are problems when you do.” Guess what I did last Friday. It is still setting in the middle of the field where I was plowing. It is on my to-do list. Jim and I need a rain. We have seed in dry ground. Just a month ago, this place was a mud hole and now it is a dust bowl.

I hope you have a great week. Thanks for reading the blog.

Extra/Extra

~National Day of Prayer May 7, 5:00 am-11:00 am