I pray that you are not feeling alone. If you are, you may have had a hard time with Valentine's Day this past week. In the writing below entitled "ALONE" know that we are praying for you and pray that you find this devotion helpful. If you are not feeling alone, reach out to someone who is!
Blessings,
Jan
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Today's Devotional:
"ALONE"
by
Jan Andersen
This past week on February 14th many people celebrated Valentine’s Day. I won’t get into the debatable origins of this day, or whether it is just a ruse to get people to buy things like Valentine cards, roses and chocolates. Nor will I address the spin-off days that have come out like “Galentine’s” and “Palentine’s” other than to say that those variations have come about because of many who do not feel they can celebrate a day set aside for couples to express their undying love for each other, or want to also celebrate platonic relationships/friendships.
There are many people who feel very lonely, especially during this particular day. Some have never found someone they can call a sweetheart or suitor. Others have thought they found a deep relationship, whether it be a friend or lover, only to see it dissolve. Still others have had a loved one die and now feel devastated and alone. There are people, because of these losses, that cannot even stand to see or hear about others celebrating days like this due to the severe loneliness, depression and heartache that wells up. There are even people who don’t love themselves because of their past, and even if they are in a crowd they feel so alone, embarrassed or ashamed of themselves. Others don’t feel able to open up to others for various reasons, and even though they may put up a good “front” in public, deep down inside they are “alone” in the crowd.
It is certainly ok to mourn our losses or feel sad for relationships we don't have or can't make. It is also important to realize we are not alone, even when we feel brokenhearted or crushed in spirit. First, there are other people feeling the same way who could empathize and lend support. But more importantly, even when people leave us or die, or we feel unlovable or forsaken, there is One who is always with us, will never leave us and loves us dearly no matter what!
Psalm 103:15-18 ESV The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children - with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
From the time of creation God knew it was not good for us to be alone. He also knew that we humans would never be able to perfectly "keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts." But He loved us so much, He sent his only Son to die in our place so that we would be able to spend eternity with Him, basking in his love forever and praising his name, never to be alone! Because He first loved us to death, literally, we are passionately grateful to Him. We show our thanks to God through our obedience to Him and loving one another. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s love, nor to lose it either, even when we repeatedly fail. God chooses to always love us. We are never truly alone!
Dear loving Father in heaven, we thank you for always being with us and loving us, no matter what. Help us to feel your presence when we feel all alone. Mend the broken hearts of your people with your love. Help us to share that love with others in meaningful ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Song:
"YOU'RE NOT ALONE"
Meredith Andrews
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Prayers are lifted up daily for you by the Devotional Writers and the Monthly Writing Staff of Women's Focus Ministries
Blog writers:
Sandy Billingham, Karen Bennett,
Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward,
Bre Miller, Lynda Kinnard, Amie Spruiell,
Debbie Rodriguez, Carol Steficek,
Jan Andersen and Corinne Mustafa
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