Lent – Day 19

Where God Sets the Lonely

“Sing to God, sing in praise of His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before Him — His name is the LORD. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.” Psalm 68:4-6

“In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:2-3, English Standard Version)

In the early 1990’s, Monty and I left behind cherished friends for Muncie, IN. We unloaded our car full of belongings into an empty room. In a few days we would move in our furniture and the things that help us create our home. Yet even all the things familiar did not fill the gap that spanned the gap between friends and family who were half way across the country from us. More specifically, I quickly found that the wave of transition and loneliness were inseparable. We struggled to find a church that met our needs. That connection has always been the difference for our family and it was a so very challenging. It took almost a year before the sadness slipped into a sense of belonging. Over time, we would find friends that remain as true as any we have ever known. There will be seasons like this where God becomes our closest, dearest friend.

The start of a new season might feel isolating, or maybe you sense a missing connection with people in your day-to-day life. Maybe the recent pandemic has made connecting regularly with people difficult for you. You feel it deep in your soul: God made you to be among others.

At the very beginning, in the book of Genesis, God said it was not good for Adam, the man He created, to be alone (Genesis 2:18). So He crafted a companion: Eve. Human community comes in many forms. For me it came in the shape of a new church family, friends and co-workers who kept me from hiding my struggles and encouraged me to get help when I needed it.

But even more than the physical presence of relationships, humans need a spiritual connection. The Scripture readings today point to where you can ultimately find a home and the dearest friend. God meets His people in their need for family and community. The fatherless have a father because God draws near to them in their loneliness.

You were once separated from God. After Jesus died on the cross to bring forgiveness for sin, He came back to life so that you could live forever with Him. Every person who accepts this gift experiences never-ending togetherness with their Creator and will one day live in a home that Jesus has prepared. Have you accepted Him?

Respond

If you feel alone, sometimes it can seem impossible for your situation to change. But you can take a small step forward. Try writing down your thoughts to God and sending a text message to a friend. Community requires a jump to enter in and faith that God will provide.