Loneliness - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.
Psalm 102:7

Loneliness
Loneliness is a very unpleasant feeling. Many who have lost loved ones know the emotion, the feeling, even many years after their loss. Such feelings were well understood by the Lord as He too passed through a deep sense of loneliness. In the latter part of Matthew the Lord foretells His coming rejection and crucifixion. He speaks of Judas's betrayal; He tells His disciples they will all forsake Him, and mentions Peter's threefold denial. In the garden, the Lord separates from His disciples to pray. Even though three are invited to follow closer, they are unable to watch with Him as sleep overcomes them, and they are not at the Lord's side either as He prays to His Father. The Lord is alone. Soon afterward, the multitude comes to take Him, and His disciples flee. During all His appearances before the authorities, He has no one at His side.

He was rejected by the people, whom He had served so wonderfully—"Crucify Him, crucify Him" was their clamor: "We will not have this Man reign over us." Those who loved Him, who stood by the cross, stood afar off. What loneliness He felt. The Psalms very vividly describe the thoughts of His heart: "I looked for sympathy, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none." "Loved one and friend You have put far from Me." "I am like a pelican of the wilderness and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop" (Ps. 69:20 jnd; 88:18; 102:6-7).

Then the climax, the last three hours on the cross, when darkness enshrouded Him and the heart-rending cry echoed forth, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"! Yes, there are times when we are lonely and it hurts, yet there is no loneliness or sorrow comparable to His. But in all our sorrow we have One to whom we can go, One who gives comfort and support in times of deepest need, because He understands.

Albert Blok