I woke this morning feeling very lonely. The word kept echoing in my head. Lonely. Alone. Maybe I should just stay in bed – who would miss me? Ahh, the self-pity kicked in.
I used that word on Monday to describe myself to my psych doc, and I think that just made it come true (self-fulfilling prophecy). I felt it all day yesterday, too.
As kitty Annabelle rubbed on my legs and plopped down at my feet, I sat down to pet her. “You’re my friend, aren’t you, Annie?” Then I prayed that maybe God would help her want some cuddle time – that she would lay on my lap and purr for a bit. She’s a great cat, but snuggling isn’t something that happens often.
I made my coffee and got out my devotional. But before I began reading, I wrote a prayer in my journal, and told God how I was feeling – lonely. And at the top of the page I wrote:
- There is one who is closer than a brother.
- Jesus called us friends, not slaves.
I didn’t look up these verses, but wrote them down as the Holy Spirit began to comfort me with His Word. Then I wrote about a woman I see later this morning who I consider a friend, and I know that our relationship can deepen with time. And I remembered the woman who called yesterday – probably to make lunch plans. We haven’t seen each other for at least a couple of weeks, but she, too, is a friend-in-the-making. Hmm, maybe not quite as alone as I thought.
I read my devotional – I highly recommend Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. I read my daily Advent reading. I read some fellow bloggers’ posts. I realized that I wasn’t feeling as lonely.
And then Annabelle pushed my iPad aside and settled onto my lap. Thanks, Lord.
“…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24b, NIV
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15;15, NIV
Friend of God performed by Phillips, Craig and Dean, written by Israel Houghton and Michael Gungor:
Sunny with a Chance of Clouds 