The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Isaiah 46:11 NIV)
Do you ever feel lonely?
In Jewish tradition, a person’s name not only identifies them, but it also reveals something about their nature. God has many names, one of which is Immanuel, which is revealed to us in Isaiah 7:14 and it means “God with us.”
My life circumstances changed a lot about ten years ago, due to increased physical challenges. But, that time was also the beginning of a new awareness of God’s presence in my daily life. In the years since then, many people have asked me if I struggle with being lonely because I spend a lot of time by myself. Truthfully, I don’t often struggle with a feeling of being alone. I did – in the beginning of this stage of my life’s journey. I’m thankful that things are different for me now. In my prayers, I used to tell God that I felt alone and that I didn’t like it much. In His still, small voice, I felt that He was encouraging me that I was not alone, and that He was with me every single day. Over time, it has become as natural to me as my own thinking, to speak to God throughout the day. I talk to Him silently for the most part, but others may be more comfortable with speaking to Him aloud. He hears us either way.
In the years since then, something profound has happened for me. Talking to God regularly and knowing the comfort of His presence with me, has changed me. I’m stronger than I used to be. To this day, I still contend with physical issues, but knowing that I am not facing them alone keeps me strong.
Not everyone has the same daily life as I do. If your daily routine includes working outside your home, driving, etc. you will need to give attention to safety and interaction with other people more than I do. My lifestyle affords me the opportunity to spend time in fellowship with the Lord that others don’t necessarily have. The amount of time we have available to spend with Him doesn’t have to define our awareness of God’s presence with us though…It’s more a matter of our mindfulness of Him than our amount of time. What I am speaking of is a daily awareness that God is with us wherever we may be, or in whatever we may be doing.
As your awareness of God’s presence increases, you can discover a strength to persevere through life’s ordeals that you never thought possible. Regardless of how much time you get to spend with God while you are living out your daily routine, the key is being increasingly aware of His presence with you. In that place, He can give you the strength you need for the day’s developments as they happen.
My prayer is, “Father, thank you for being Immanuel to us. Thank you that you never leave us nor forsake us. Whatever our situation, please help us to become more aware of Your presence in our daily lives, Your desire to see us overcome life’s challenges and Your willingness and ability to help us in every situation. May we walk through our daily lives in the strength that only You can give us. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN.
