Category: Loneliness

Waiting, alone

Ruth Kirk

Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

Waiting, alone, and in silence:
We’re one with you, God.

Searching, alone, and in stillness:
We’re one with you, God.

Wrestling, alone, and in darkness:
We’re one with you, God.

Longing, alone, and in anguish:
We’re one with you, God.

Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38; NLT).

Reference

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BES).

Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day (Genesis 32:24; NKJV).

I can never get away from your Spirit! I can never escape from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night – but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you (Psalm 139: 7-12; NLT).

 

Abuse

Ruth Kirk

They all do evil and abuse what power they have (Jeremiah 23:10; NLT).

Abuse
Gives birth
To fear.

Abuse
Engenders
Shame.

Abuse
Produces
Grief and dread.

Abuse
Results
In pain.

Do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them (Ephesians 6:4; NLT).

The land is full of people unfaithful to the LORD; they live wicked lives and misuse their power (Jeremiah 23:10; GNT).

 

Jesus

Ruth Kirk

In him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28; NIV).

We live in You
Like fish in water;
Move in You
Like birds in air.

You’re the God,
Who walks beside us –
All we suffer, Lord,
You share.

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT. 

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

References

I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering (Isaiah 53:4; NIV).

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19; NIV).

There is …one God and Creator of all, who is over all, who works through all and is within all (Ephesians 4:4-6; TIB).

Aloneness

Ruth Kirk

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).

Jesus,
There is nothing
You don’t know
About aloneness.

Jesus,
There is nothing
You don’t know
About despair.

Jesus,
There is nothing
You don’t know,
About depression.

Jesus,
There is nothing
You don’t know –
That’s why you share.

Day after day he bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19; CSB).

References

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5; RSV).

In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

I’m nothing

Ruth Kirk

I am nothing at all (2 Corinthians 12:11; NLT).

I’m nothing,
Yet I love you, Lord;
I’m nothing,
Yet I sing.

I’m nothing,
Yet I follow you;
I’m nothing,
Yet I cling.

I’m nothing,
Yet I bear my cross;
I’m nothing,
Yet I pray.

I’m nothing,
Yet, my Lord, you are
My life, my truth,
My way.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6; NLT).

References

What is the price of five sparrows – two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them (Luke 12:6; NLT).

I am nothing but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27; NIV).

I love you, Lord; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

I sing praise to you (Psalm 59:17; NIV).

I cling to you (Psalm 63:8; NIV).

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34; NLT).

 

Darkness

Ruth Kirk

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).

Though darkness can be hard, my child,
And stillness can be tough,

And silence can be very bleak,
And loneliness, so rough;

Yet, darkness will be turned to light,
And stillness, made so good,

And silence will be turned to bliss,
And loneliness, to love.

My God turns my darkness into light (Psalm 18:28, NIV).

I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

References

You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend (Psalm 88:18; NLT).

I lie awake, I am like a lonely bird on the housetop (Psalm 102:7; RSV).

Each one of you is a child of God because of your faith in Christ Jesus. All of you who have been baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. In Christ there is no Jew or Greek, slave or citizen, male or female. All are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 26-8; TIB).

Be still, and know that I am God! (Psalm 46:10; NLT).

It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD (Lamentations 3:26; NLT).

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your s protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

You turned my lament into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness (Psalm 30:11; CSB).

 

Broken and forgotten

Ruth Kirk

I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery (Psalm 31:12; NIV).

I’m broken and forgotten,
And the world is rolling on,
But I’ve been left behind,
Because I’m old, plain, sick and slow.

I’ve never won approval,
Or rewards, or love, or praise,
Or even recognition, though
I’ve tried so hard to grow.

My modest skills have faded,
And my life has been a mess;
I’m sad and disappointed, for
I’ve tried to do your will.

I longed for some approval,
And I ached for human praise,
Or simply recognition, but
I’ll trust and serve you still.

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him (Job 13:15; KJV).

References

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go (John 21:18; NIV).

You have taken from me friend and neighbor –  darkness is my closest friend (Psalm 88:18; NIV).

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights (Habakkuk 3:17-19; NLT).

 

When I can cling no more

Ruth Kirk

Cling tightly to the Lord your God (Joshua 23:8; NLT).

Lord,
When I can cling to you
No more,
Please bear me in your arms,
Beside your heart.

Lord,
Carry me to heaven
At my death,
To dwell as one with you,
And never part.

They now live forever with God in the Spirit (1 Peter 4:6; NLT).

References

His everlasting arms are under you (Deuteronomy 33:27; NLT).

In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

Your right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8; NLT).

 

Continual spontaneous prayer

Ruth Kirk

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

Continual spontaneous prayer is a way of life. It means opening our whole selves to God at every moment, sharing every thought, sensation, emotion and experience with God as it happens.

In this approach to prayer, we hide nothing whatsoever from God. We may be tempted to push unwanted thoughts or impulses aside, but instead, we choose to acknowledge them openly and willingly. Then we deal with them straightforwardly, directly with God.

This way of praying is constant, dynamic, and totally honest. It has no beginning, middle, or end. Rather, it is a long-term, two-way conversation with God.

A life of continuous prayer means spontaneously expressing our love, worship, praise, thanks, intercessions, rejoicing, sorrows, fears, and cries for help. We share them with God as they arise within us.

It also includes unplanned periods when our prayer continues, but no words are needed. This wordless communion, when we simply rest in oneness with God, is one of the most intimate kinds of prayer we can experience here, on earth.

Above all, a life of continual, spontaneous prayer means being completely real with God, who is always completely real with us. This is the kind of relationship God longs to have with every one of us.

The Lord longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18; NIV). 

You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).

References

The LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).

By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him (Hebrews 10:20; NLT).

We are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16; NIV).

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence (Ephesians 3:12; NLT).

I am God, and not man; the Holy One within thee (Hosea 11:9; BST).

We are united with Christ (Ephesians 1:3; NLT).

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

 

Sharing

Ruth Kirk

You know my thoughts (Psalm 139:2; NLT).

Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely (Psalm 139:4; NIV). 

Lord,
You know my tangled thoughts!
Instead of using words to pray,
I open up my mind to you,
For you grasp all I want to say.

Lord,
You know my troubled heart!
Instead of saying how I feel,
I open all my cares to you,
For you will comfort, help, and heal.

Lord,
You know my lonely soul!
Instead of hiding all my fears,
I open my whole self to you,
For you will share my pain and tears.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight (Hebrews 4:13; NIV).

In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).