“I am going to share something that is probably going to make me cry. I don’t want to talk about it. I just need you to pray.” And so, gathering all my courage and not making eye contact, I said the following to my Bible Study ladies. “I am lonely and feel completely unseen in every area of my life. Could you please pray that I would find a friend?”
And with those words I started crying and fled to the kitchen of the home where we were meeting. Sharing those words out loud made me realize several things with sudden and startling clarity.
1,) I was believing a lie and was allowing emotion to rule my thoughts and actions. Ephesians 6:11 says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” My daughters leaving for college, my husband’s increased work load, and the fact that I work from home had left me feeling lonely and off-balance.
And the great deceiver took quick advantage of that chink in my armor. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
2.) Everyone feels like this some of the time. Sharing how I felt allowed others to share similar feeling they have had in the past or were currently feeling. We all move so fast that we are guilty of not seeing the people around us. A sad, but true fact of our current culture is that we can spend an hour on Facebook but cannot find an hour to spend with a friend.
3.) It takes courage to share the hard stuff but in doing so our load is lightened. Shining light on how I was feeling allowed me to stop living in a place of emotion and start operating from a place of truth and logic instead. God created us for relationship with him and with each other. Ecclesiastes 4:9 tells us that two are better than one.
4.) We are always seen by God. In Genesis Hagar calls God El Roi – the God who sees. In Matthew 10:29 – 31 Jesus says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside of the Father’s will. And even the very hairs on your head are numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” In the midst of a crowd Jesus saw Zachaeus in a tree. In the midst of all of our crazy and busy Jesus sees us as well.
Precious Father – Forgive us when we are too busy for relationship with you and with the people around us. Open our eyes to see the people we come in contact with. Help us to be the friend to others that we long to have ourselves. And help us to operate through the screen of your truth and not our emotions. Amen.