After the busy, festive seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas, many people find that January and February are lonely and gloomy months. Some call this time after the holidays are past the winter blues. The colder temperatures keep many indoors, and the early sunsets result in longer, dark evenings. Visiting extended family members who brought cheer and fellowship earlier in the winter have returned to their own homes. Loneliness sets in.
These long, winter days are especially difficult for those who live by themselves, such as widows, widowers, and those who are divorced or have other broken family relationships. The loneliness is often heightened as one recalls happy memories of days gone by. Those memories contrasted against one’s current condition make the present all the more painful.
Consider three of the many great and precious promises from the Lord that can cheer the heart during times of loneliness.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10). This promise is the basis of the second stanza of the beloved hymn, “How Firm a Foundation.” When a wife or husband is not present, the right hand of God’s righteousness is still present and will uphold us. We are never alone! Our Lord is beside us; He longs to strengthen and help us. Although our human spouse is no longer present, we can rest assured in the truth that God is with us. We can believe His purposes are good for those who love Him, even in this lonely time when fears and grief seem so acute.
I am with you always.
Before He ascended to Heaven, our Lord Jesus left us with these words of truth and comfort: “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20). Have you ever felt desolate, forsaken, and abandoned? When such feelings or thoughts overtake you, remember and know that our Lord Jesus is with you as surely as He was with His disciples in Galilee. His power is not dimmed by time nor His presence dissipated by space or distance. In the midst of the deepest winter blues, the Sun of Righteousness is still shining in His glorious strength.
I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). This verse is a combination quotation from the Lord’s promises in the Old Testament to Jacob: “I will not leave thee” (Genesis 28:15); to the nation of Israel: “nor forsake thee” (Deuteronomy 31:6); and to Joshua: “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Joshua 1:5).
This hope-filled verse from Hebrews is also sung in a well-loved hymn. Have you ever considered the seemingly aimless repetition in the stanza of “How Firm a Foundation” that says, “I’ll never, no never, no never forsake”? That’s a fivefold negative! This affirmation is not merely coincidence or a hymnwriter’s attempt to fill syllables that could not otherwise be filled. In Scripture, five negatives are actually stacked together in the Greek text of Hebrews 13:5! In English, stacked negatives cancel each other out. However, in Greek, stacked negatives build upon one another in force and emphasis. God will never, no, never leave you, nor will He ever forsake you!
When discouragement or sadness comes upon you, take time to look up these passages of promise. Let the truth of God’s presence penetrate your heart. You need never feel alone again!
