Job 36:4
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

Loneliness is absolutely one of the most discouraging things we can ever experience. By its very definition it is discouraging, feeling sad through being without friends or company; isolated and rarely visited. I will never forget the loneliest time in my life. I was in the army, right out of basic training, and after two weeks of being with friends and family…I was one of the first ones to return to the base. It seemed as if I was the only one there and the emptiness in the pit of my stomach was more than I could bear. I can still remember walking up to an isolated hill nearby and sobbing uncontrollably until I became physically sick. I never want to feel the depth and despair of such loneliness ever again. The glorious truth is…I never will. At the time I wasn't a Christian and didn't understand that a person doesn't have to feel that type of loneliness. Jesus said, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20). As God's children, He is always with us…always. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. There will be times in our lives when we will experience periods of loneliness…even extended periods. It is in those times that the enemy will diligently try to convince us that absolutely no one is there…including God. This can lead to us doubting whether or not God's word is true. It is in those times that we must, in faith, hold on to the impossibility for God to lie and cling to His promises. He is always with us! What a glorious encouragement this is when we find ourselves alone. In fact, when we fully understand that He is always with us…we welcome times of being alone…knowing that when we have no one else around us…we have the Lord all to ourselves without any distractions.

Lord Jesus…thank you that you are with us always. Thank you for your word that tells us such glorious truths. Help us this week to appreciate times of being alone so that we might better understand how near you are to each of us every minute of our lives. Thank you that we can count on the spiritual truth that you will be with us always…even to the end of the age. In your glorious name we pray…Amen.

May you draw near to the Lord in your times of being alone. May your heart hunger for more and more opportunities this week to draw near to a lonely place that you might spend precious time with Jesus. And may you be more certain than ever that He is always…always…always at your side!