that Friend | a case of loneliness pt. 1

"There is no misery like a lonely heart," said my pastor.








And I agree. It sucks.

I'm no stranger to the feeling. It went from always being there (entire early teenage years), to sometimes being there (after becoming a Christian), to almost never being there (after knowing Grace), but regardless of the frequency of appearing, it's always.. there. I don't know how common this is. Looking at people with a lot of friends, I often wonder if they ever felt the same. Who knows. I would love your input on this.

But lately, it came back and it came back STRONG. A lot of changes are happening in my life and I kind of was left in a place where when I look at my circle of friends (boyfriend not included), it's painfully empty.

It's been going on for months now, yet I'm here to share with you that one moment Jesus kind of spoke to the situation, and it was beautiful.

I was at John 9 in my Bible reading, and I've heard this story countless times. But that night I saw it in a new light.

So basically Jesus just healed a man blind from birth. The Pharisees were unhappy about it because they were jealous of Jesus. They didn't really believe that he was actually blind to begin with, and called his parents for proof. And here is where the story interestingly spoke to me.

19 They asked them, Is this your son, whom you reported as having been born blind? How then does he see now?
20 His parents answered, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind.
21 But as to how he can now see, we do not know; or who has opened his eyes, we do not know. He is of age. Ask him; let him speak for himself and give his own account of it.
22 His parents said this because they feared [the leaders of] the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should acknowledge Jesus to be the Christ, he should be expelled and excluded from the synagogue.
23 On that account his parents said, He is of age; ask him.

So here are the parents of this man, the 2 people who essentially made him, the 2 people who are supposed to love him the most, yet due to fear of their status in society, washed their hands of the case and tried their best not to be associated with their own flesh and blood, leaving him to handle it alone.

Now, if I were to be blind my whole life and now I see, I would expect those who love me to be happy for me! Yet, his parents are too busy saving their faces; his supposed leaders are too legalistic, self-centered and jealous to care; and his neighbors were more interested in how he got to see. Nowhere was it written that he had the chance to celebrate the miracle. They even threw(!!) him outside the synagogue. (Seriously what is wrong with these people.)

What a sad sad feeling it is, to be happy yet feeling like nobody is there to be happy with and for you. Like there is no one to share that happiness with. The misery is real.

But Jesus and His love for us are also real.

Hearing what the Jews did to Him, Jesus actually came back to find him.

Now, He really didn't have to. Healing his blindness was already nice of Jesus. Even if He just left, this blind man surely wouldn't have anything to complain about. Still, Jesus came back, revealed who He actually was, and this guy didn't just end up with an eyesight, but also the eternal presence of a Savior.

Isn't it like God to go the extra mile for us? He's done enough on the cross, hasn't He? Yet, He cares about our day to day events and worries. He knew this daughter would feel lonely and sad one day, and so He has paid the price for us never to be lonely again by dying alone on the cross without friends and loved ones so that we shall always have friends and loved ones around us – a promise I'm holding on to.

Jesus revealed to me that in situations where I can't find anyone to celebrate with me, He's there. When my friends and families fail, He doesn't. He is interested in what makes me happy, what makes me sad, what my wants and needs are. He revealed to me that He actually wants to be with me, that He enjoys my presence!

And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. - John 14:3

He is coming back for me, to take me with Him, because He wants me to be with Him. And beloved, He feels the same way about you too!

I learned that feeling lonely goes deeper beyond how many friends I have. In the end, only one friendship matters the most, and it's with the One who loves you most. Prioritize on that one first, and trust Him to make everything else fall into place.

Jesus told me to take a look once again at my circle of friends. And hey, there He is :)

by Unknown 9:27 AM 0 comments