Lifting the siege of loneliness

I live in one of the world's largest cities, so I have millions of neighbors. Yet even with all the people around, many residents are plagued by loneliness. Someone living in the Texas panhandle where the nearest neighbor may be two hours away might find that hard to believe. But doesn't this lead us to suspect that loneliness has nothing whatever to do with the number of people around; that it relates instead to the thoughts of the individual suffering from loneliness? And that being the case, wherever we may be, whatever time it may be , whatever the situation may be - we can heal loneliness now, with no need to wait for something else to happen first.

Loneliness indicates a deep-rooted desire to know that we're cared about, cared for, worthy of care. And if that's what we're hungering for, there's no better place to turn to than the Bible. Here, God's Word speaks clearly and unmistakably of His abiding and ceaseless care for us. Consider these three potent expressions of His love:

''The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.'' n1

n1 Jeremiah 31:3.

''I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.'' n2

n2 Isaiah 41:13.

''Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?. . . If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.'' n3

n3 Psalms 139:7, 9, 10.

Throughout the Old and New Testaments we find such avowals of divine care.

Why do people talk about the living Word of the Bible? Isn't it because the Scriptures reveal ideas of spiritual truth that, when understood, stir the heart , refresh our spirits, and relieve our distress? The Word of the Bible isn't limited to a particular time or place in history; it's universal in its significance, timeless in its truth. So the words of the prophets and of David quoted above are not just for their time. These words define for all time and peoples the relationship of man to his Father-Mother God. They speak of an unbreakable unity between God and man. They make clear that God has never forsaken or abandoned us.

In Science and Health with Key to the Scripturesm Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes: ''Let us rid ourselves of the belief that man is separated from God, and obey only the divine Principle, Life and Love. Here is the great point of departure for all true spiritual growth.'' n4

n4 Science and Health, p. 91.

Since, according to the Bible, God is Love and the creator of all, He must be the source of all love. The love of God is without measure. It's pure, dependable, constant, unreserved, ever active, and unlimited in power. Man is the object of His love. Waking to this spiritual fact is wonderful. It lifts the siege of loneliness.

Speaking of the time when he would be left alone, Christ Jesus added, ''Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.'' n5

n5 John 16:32.

Realizing our own unity with God as His spiritual creation, we come to see that loneliness is a lie; that there's no truth in it. Indeed, we all can feel and know the richness and vitality of the life that our God has given us, life free from feelings of isolation. DAILY BIBLE VERSE I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, no principalities, nor powers, nor things things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any living creature, shall be able to seperate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38, 39.

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