Our Inspired Journey

Last Sunday our pastor spoke on the topic of "Loneliness vs. Aloneness." John and I were struck by a point he made where he said, in the times of our life when we feel lonely, those are moments God has allowed to happen to remind us of our primary purpose...the reason we were created, which is communion with Him. He wants to create space in our lives where we invest in our friendship with Him. Our culture has created the expectation of each of us that the busier we are, the better. The more we can be involved in and have our name wrapped up in, the more successful we can and will become. Now, I have been incredibly blessed in my life to have been involved in many different groups, jobs, roles, etc. that have brought myself and others joy. I, in no way, mean we are to become hermits! I do believe, however, that there are times in our life where we derive more value from those roles, positions and memberships, than we do from our primary calling and purpose, which is to be a child of God.

I know this may seem like a calling not of everyone but only those who have chosen to call themselves Christians, but I assure you, that it is the calling and primary purpose of every human being to know and experience the joy of being known and most of all LOVED by God. I read something recently that reminded me of this calling...this purpose for our life....to love and be loved by the Living God.

In reference to Psalm 123:1-2a
"I lift my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven. Like a servant's eyes on His master's hand, like a servant girl's eyes on her mistress's hand, so our eyes are on the Lord our God..."

"I have no idea how a man would look at the reference to his role as servant in this verse, but as a woman I am tendered by the image of just one feminine servant sitting at the hand of her master... something in every woman's heart longs to see herself for just one moment as the only one at her dearest love's hand....Yes, you and I have the joy of laboring beside many wonderful fellow servants, but perhaps today your feminine heart needs to see itself - all by yourself- right there at the hand of your Master, Jesus. Yes, you look to Him as do many others around you. But I think it might be all right today if you also imagined that there are times he only has eyes for you. Somehow in His limitless capacity to love, nurture, and watch over us, Christ can attend to each of us as if we are the only one in the world. Take a moment today...and sense Christ's gaze upon you, His Beloved." - Beth Moore

I had a moment recently of feeling very lonely in this journey of mothering my boys through long days while John is at school, navigating through Cole's hearing impairment, and thinking of our little girl joining our family in January. I believe that God will sustain me, but with our family and close friends so far away, the feeling of loneliness swept over me in a real and difficult way. I didn't even feel like talking about it (which is hard to believe!) but the only thing I felt drawn toward was retreat and being with Jesus alone. I could hear the Lord's voice calling me out of my loneliness and into a time of aloneness with Him. It was only after crying out to God from the depths of my heart in an honest and real way that I felt his presence calm and fill me. I was reminded in that moment that my friendship with Him is the most fulfilling and complete relationship I have and will ever be a part of. I am thankful to be known and loved by the kind of God who can, would and does seek out and desire times of closeness with me as if I was the only one alive. The amazing thing is that He wants to love each of us the same way. How could I do anything with more passion and purpose than to love a God like Him? Yes - friends, family, husbands and children are all symbols and representations at times of the kind of love we are shown by God, but none will ever be more complete than the friendship we can have with our Maker...the one who knit each of us together so intentionally and perfectly. I can't think of anything more appropriate than to quote the beautiful words of my Ryder Daniel each time he's thankful, "Thank-you, JESUS!" (with a dramatic emphasis on JESUS!) May God draw near to you today as you draw near to Him.