Who among us does not long to have a close friend? Our culture is plagued by loneliness on an epic scale due to rampant divorce, geographical separation of families, frenzied preoccupation with materialism, internet socialization instead of personal contact, and a steady stream of 24/7 entertainment without ever having to leave our home. All these factors have created a culture of isolation.
But God created us for relationships.
C.S. Lewis wrote:
“We are born helpless. As soon as we are fully conscious we discover loneliness. We need others physically, emotionally, intellectually; we need them if we are to know anything, even ourselves.”
C.S. Lewis, “The Four Loves”
This is so true! So much of our identity is drawn from those around us. And because GOD created us and knows us better than we know ourselves, it stands to reason that our most meaningful relationship is with HIM. He gives us the most acute and accurate sense of who we are. The Psalmist wrote:
“You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thoughts afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.”
Psalms 139:2-6 NKJV
Isn’t it simply incredible to think that such an Almighty being knows us so intimately? Not only does God completely get us—quirks and all—but He loves us so much that He died to reconcile us to Himself. He purchased our salvation with His own blood.
God will be our most intimate, loyal, powerful, wise, and loving Friend—if we allow Him to be!
Our greatest friendships are with people whose greatest friend is God because —in Him is the greatest love which is the basis for the greatest friendship.
Loneliness is never cured by friendship with someone who is offering us only the fleeting pleasures of this world. This is only counterfeit love and it will never satisfy you. You have a soul and a spirit that longs for supernatural love. This love comes from God. It never fails because He never fails. Friendship built primarily upon money, status, career or even family—are always in danger of being jeopardized by our ever-shifting circumstances. They will not withstand loss of the foundation upon which they were built. But…. friendship with God is perpetual—no person or circumstance can change it!
When God is our best Friend, we realize that our friends who also love Him…are more precious than gold.
The times I’ve felt most abandoned and deeply betrayed—were good for me. They forced me to redirect my heart back to making God my greatest passion and the center of my hope. When God is first in my heart I know I am loved by the best. When He is my center—I’m never lonely. Furthermore…
When I know who I am in God—I can be the friend He wants me to be to others.
Jesus said:
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:13-15 NKJV
Passionately pursuing God is the permanent cure for loneliness—in Him we FIND our best Friend and—we BECOME a better friend!
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
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4 Responses
Much needed, for such a time as this!
Amen and amen! Praise be to God.