A Resounding Yes
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:8
Loneliness is a fun smasher, joy stealer and dark mood maker that all of us have experienced at some point during our lifetime. We can be in a crowd of people and still feel lonely or perhaps we are physically alone in an unfamiliar place. Either can stoke the fire of aloneness. Max Lucado (author of You Are Never Alone) shares some interesting facts from a 2019 study in Texas that you will find very interesting. (The stats have probably risen since then.)
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Administrators of one of the largest hospitals in America cite loneliness as a major reason for overcrowded emergency rooms. Parkland Hospital of Dallas, Texas, made this startling discovering as they were looking for ways to unclog the system. The identified eighty patients who went to four emergency rooms 5,139 times in a twelve-month period, cost the system more than $14 million.
Once they identified these repeat visitors, they commissioned teams to meet with them and determine the reason. Their conclusion? Loneliness. Poverty and food shortage were contributing factors, but the number one determinant was a sense of isolation. The ER provided attention, kindness, and care. Hence the multiple return visits. They wanted to know that someone cares.
Don’t we all?
If I’m facing an onslaught of challenges, will God help? When life grows dark and stormy, does He notice? If I’m facing the fear of death, will He help me?
Does God care? The answer is a resounding yes!
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There is a myth that 365 verses (one for each day) emphasize His Presence but in reality, there are about 150 verses that tell us He will never, ever leave us. That is still quite an impressive number. Really, how many times do we have to hear or read the same message before we finally get it?
What takes us so long? Lack of faith, testing the water, listening to others or just plain hard-headedness?
Please reach out and be the human that cares!
Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your promises to stay with us. We admit that we are slow to pick up on things sometimes. Please help us recognize the lonely people in the midst of our busyness. AMEN.