“Be My Guest”

 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and you staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

Perhaps no passage of scripture has been used more often to bring solace to a hurting heart than this one. This means that God is with us and his presence comforts us. It means that wherever we are in whatever situation, we are not alone. Being alone and being lonely are two different things and is so dispiriting that has you feeling perplexed with a feeling of utterly being alone. You see from my encounter, those who suffer seclusion, experience depths of despair emotionally expressed in Jesus heart-breaking cry on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

 The reason for Jesus to cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” It could be that Jesus’ intent in quoting Psalm 22:1 was to point His hearers to that psalm. When they read Psalm 22, they would no doubt see the many fulfilled prophecies included in that song of David. Even while experiencing the agony of the cross. 

There have been times during my faith journey where I have felt, being alone and being lonely. I would wonder what is causing this loneliness and what is the cure to being alone without being lonely, and being lonely in a crowded room. What a state of mind, such an emotion brought on by feelings of separation from other human beings. Those were the times when I had difficulty believing God was with me. A deep sadness that came within my mind with the idea you are alone in the world especially after a lost and needing someone to “Be My Guest”; thoughts of not having a friend, that no one cares, that no one is concerned about anything that might happen to me/us, that no one would care if we were to die or shed a tear over our grave. 

Thoughtfully, was Jesus teaching the crowds and proving yet again that He was the Messiah who fulfilled the Scriptures?

When connecting meaningfully with others who are suffering, keep it simple. Say hi, It’s good to see you. Your next move may be silence, just a listening ear or you could touch the person with a warm hug, depending on your relationship with them. My advice, don’t start with, How are you? You could say, “Fill me in on what’s been happening.” But what helped me the most was when the friend was quiet and Listen to me. You see listening much more than talking leads to victory in caring.

No one felt loneliness more keenly than David. In a series of earnest, heartfelt appeals to God, David cried out in his loneliness and despair. His own son rose up against him, the men of Israel went after him, and he was forced to flee from the city, and leave his house and family. Lonely and afflicted (Psalm 25:16) his only recourse was to turn to God and plead for mercy and God’s intervention (Psalm 25:21) because his only hope was in God. It is interesting to note that the word “lonely” is never used in the New Testament to describe people. In the New Testament, the word “lonely” only occurs twice and both times refers to desolate places (Mark 1:45); Luke 5:16)) where Jesus moved off into the wilderness to be alone. 

Whatever the cause of loneliness, for the Christian the cure is always the same—the comforting fellowship of Christ. That loving relationship with our Master has reassured and encouraged countless thousands who languished in prisons and even went to their deaths for His sake. He is the friend who “sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24) who lays down His life for His friends (John 15:13-15), and who has promised never to leave us or forsake us but to be with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). We can also take part in community with others by participating or sharing in the sufferings of a brother or sister loneness. You may never be more Christlike than when you participate in this loneliness and sorrow of hurting world, wrestling with the pain and providing the comfort of community as you model the life of Christ in ministry to others, you become Christ to hurting people.

We can take comfort in the words of the old hymn that says it best: “Friends may fail me, foes assail me, He is with me to the end. Hallelujah, what a Savior!”

Dear Lord open my mind, O Lord, to the influence of your blessed Word. Teach me what you would have me know about a loneliness and suffering world. Let knowledge chase away my misconceptions, and let love abound in the understanding I gain. Guide me with a listening heart as I enter the place where they are. Helping me understand it’s not about me and get to know each of them as individuals, even as Jesus knows me. Understanding just being present is sometimes all we need. This I ask in your Son, Jesus. Amen

God Bless You and This Ministry!