Sheryl Crow gets it—at least when it comes to loneliness. Many of her song lyrics express our longing for relationships and the questions that bubble to the surface when we live in isolation for too long. Does anybody want me? Does anybody need me? What will I do if the answer is “no”?
For Hagar, the answer was no, and she hit the road, leaving behind Sarai and Abram. The thing was, Hagar was carrying Abraham’s child, but Sarai had “treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away” (Gen. 16:6).
The only one who came looking for Hagar was the angel of the Lord. The angel found her alone and in the desert. He struck up a conversation by asking, “Where have you come from, and where are you going?” (v.8). Although God already knew the answers, His messenger established a two-way connection with Hagar to ease the pain of her isolation.
As this tender talk unfolded, the angel reassured her that her solitude was temporary, and He gave her a revelation of God Himself—showing that He truly cared for her. Hagar’s aloneness mattered to God. The angel said, “The Lord has heard your cry of distress” (v.11). While the Bible doesn’t record Hagar’s desperate plea, it appears that God’s healing dialogue started in the most heartbreaking and loneliest moment of her life.
Are you suffering from the ache of absentee friends or family? Remember that God hears your call of distress, and He’s ready to talk openly and tenderly to you—to lead you out of your loneliness. After all, the One who soothed Hagar’s soul is “the God who sees me . . . the Living One who sees me” (vv.13-14).
More:
You know what I long for, Lord; You hear my every sigh (Psalm 38:9).
Next:
How do you view the way God communicates with you? What two-way conversation have you recently had with Him? What was the result?
Gift of GOD on December 7, 2009 at 6:51 am
loneliness really is a big issue in this world…
everyone try so hard to search for someone or something to fill this loneliness and emptiness…
but God is the one who always be with us and He will never forsake us no matter what happen… He is a God who really sees… AMEN~
phillip on December 7, 2009 at 8:37 am
I heard someone say once that the world asks the right questions but sadly has the wrong answers.
Your post today illustrates this well. We need to be God’s “angels” (messengers) to the world letting them know that God is not “watching from a distance” but is living, near to the broken hearted and sees them in their deepest needs.
jennifer benson schuldt on December 7, 2009 at 11:16 am
I like this perspective. As believers, we do have a wonderful message to share with lonely people. God made each one of us and knows our needs, fears and desires. He’s ready to talk to us whenever we’re ready to talk to Him!
strength 91 on December 7, 2009 at 10:48 am
God’s arms of love and mercy will surround us if we
will call on his name he will come.In John 4:8 he says draw near to me and I will draw near to you.We never need to feel lonely when we know there’s a God who cares and loves us.When the world walks away from you God will still be there for you.He is a Constant in our lives,and never changes.
jennifer benson schuldt on December 7, 2009 at 11:20 am
Yes! Your last thought reminded me of this scripture: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Savedforever on December 7, 2009 at 10:03 pm
There was a saying that “no man is an island”; that’s right. We feel lonely when we are alone. Man needs companionship and relationship. Even when our family and friends are not absent, still we feel lonely when we are despised and mistreated by them or when they turn their back on you but God is “Immanuel” He is always with us. Jesus is our best Friend when He is in you, you will never be lonely again.
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
EcKg on December 7, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Truly we need the Lord when going through tough time in our life.Remember, The Lord is our shepherd, he will lead us through it all.
jennifer benson schuldt on December 8, 2009 at 8:33 am
Savedforever and EcKg, thanks for these encouraging thoughts. Here’s another bit of encouragement…this is a very popular poem, written originally by Mary Stevenson in 1936. I think the message relates to what we’ve been discussing.
Footprints
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”
mamciver on January 22, 2010 at 5:29 pm
I READ ALL THE NICE THINGS YOU WROTE ABOUT LONELINESS YOU HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT REAL LONELINESS. I KNOW SPIRITUALLY THAT GOD IS ALWAYS WITH ME NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. HE HAS HEALED ME MANY TIMES. ON THE PHYSICAL LEVEL DO YOU GO WEEKS WITH NO ONE TO TALK TOO, NO PHONE CALL NOT EVEN BILL COLLECTORS,NOT A FRIEND IN THE AREA WHERE I LIVE THE ONLY PERSON OF YOUR RACE.IF IT COULD GO WRONG IT DID.ALL SO CALL FRIENDS TO BUSY[CHRISTIAN INCLUDED]IF IT WAS NOT FOR GOD I DON,T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO.I GLAD JESUS LOVE ME .FOLKS TAKE THE MASK OFF. WHO ARE YOU REALLY?
M22G on April 25, 2010 at 11:08 pm
To Mamciver – I’d gone 8 months with no calls from friends or family … and being depressed I didn’t reach out either and then I got really sick for 3 months and I didn’t even care but realized if I didn’t care no one else would so I started getting back to eating and I have to admit ANGER gave me the strength to come back. Although anger was the set off I had totally wrecked my car in an accident and got laid off from work and no one seemed to care and then on top of that got kicked out the house … I moved to a different state away from everyone I knew and they never even bothered to find out where I was. I was gone and lost but along the way I read “Forgiveness” it was a story about brothers selling their brother to slavery … I felt a lot of the pain and just like Joseph I hadn’t really done anything wrong. I didn’t owe anyone … I was usually the one they came for when they needed money or rides … I never asked for anything in return, but when I needed help no one was there. It hurts! But if I was going to stop the hurt I had to also realize that the people that hurt are hurting themselves. I forgave everyone on my own and I never mentioned how much they had hurt me by walking away. I rely on myself because I came into this world alone and I’ll die alone. Sometimes you just have to get away from people that aren’t going to help you out even if that is your family. Some people will never learn till it’s too late or when they are in need. I know I don’t allow them to get to me now. I was such a sucker and God had to put me through a lot to get me to understand that it is important to stand on my own two feet. Don’t get me wrong I love my family, but I don’t have to please them or anyone else for that matter. They don’t call me unless they need something and now I understand that. I hope that you find your understanding and don’t become bitter because that’s a dangerous feeling that will eat you inside out. God bless you.