When Loneliness Invites Company
By: Jodi Aiken
Have you ever felt lonely? I imagine everyone has felt this way at some point in their lives.
To be honest, I struggle with loneliness more than I care to admit.
Sometimes the feeling is short lived, and other times it is a lengthy battle. I know I am losing when I hear the Enemy whispering lies and I begin wondering if there may be truth in them.
Lies such as:
* Your friends have forgotten about you.
* You are not needed.
* Protect your heart, and keep others at a distance.
* No one else feels the loneliness you do.
* You are all alone.
Has the Enemy whispered similar lies to you?
When we are in a state of loneliness, the suffocation of it can prevent us from fighting. We fall limp at the feet of the Enemy hoping for a glimmer of light from God to strengthen us.
During one of my battles of loneliness, I went before the Lord and pleaded for His help. I asked for His light to shine in my darkness. I needed to hear His truth about my situation, feelings, thoughts, and fears. I went to Him because He has never lied to me and He can be trusted.
He led me to Psalms 62. As my eyes fell upon Psalms 62:10 my heart sank deep within.
“Do not trust in oppression.”
The Mariam Webster dictionary describes oppress as a sense of being weighed down in body or mind: depression an oppression of spirits.
It was evident to me I was trusting the whispers of defeat, despair, and desolation. But the battle between my heart and mind raged as they conflicted one another.
Then the Lord drew my eyes back up to Psalms 62:8
“Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.”
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.”
As I began pouring my heart out to God and choosing to trust Him rather than in my oppression, something began to happen. His light began to overpower my darkness. The battle between my heart and thoughts began to align properly.
However, there was one more step He led me to take.
I found this step in Psalms 63:3
“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.”
My lips will praise You.”
I craved His lovingkindness because my life was feeling bleak. I knew I was to praise Him not just with my heart and mind, but out-loud. Praise sounds like a simple action step, but when we are in despair, depressed, and lonely, it can feel daunting. At first, my words came out as a mumble. However, the more I spoke of His glory, might, power, and majesty, I became overwhelmed by His presence with stronger pronunciation.
My loneliness had invited God to join me for companionship. The battle was won because God heard my praise and my cry for help! My breathing deepened, my thoughts cleared, and my eyes brightened. The truth began to prevail, and my trust was no longer in my oppression, but in Almighty God.
Are you in need of His presence? Praise Him out loud.
Are you in need of His power? Trust Him to do what He says He can do.
Are you in need of His truth? Go to His word and let the truth set you free.
The next time you sense the darkness of loneliness crouching over, be quicker to turn to God and praise Him.
Praise Him with a LOUD voice, because the Enemy cannot withstand our praise to the God of gods, Lord of lords, and King of kings. There is power in His name!
Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
John 14:16 – I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever.
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Other articles by Jodi: I’m Not Cut Out for This!
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Jodi Aiken is the mom to two boys, a frequent blogger, and speaker for conferences focused on making disciples among women. She is passionate about sharing her stories and teaching others to know Him and make Him known. She has dedicated over 15 years to leading women’s ministry. Jodi holds an Associates of Science in Business Administration from Pensacola State College, works as a Realtor in the Florida panhandle, and is married to Chris Aiken, a senior pastor in Pensacola and her husband of 28 years.
You can check out Contagiousjoy4him & our statement of faith here. We Believe. You can check our Founder and Directors’s speaking schedule here. Find out more about Diane and our writing team.
Thank you for sharing your heart Diane! I’ve been praying for you, your family and the ministry all along. Even more so since I learned of your holiday illness.
I also have two words for 2018. I’m hearing attitude and trust. My verse for the last decade or so has been Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” Recently God showed me Psalm 56:3 “When I am afraid I will trust in You. In God whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”