When we go through periods of personal pain and trial, we often feel alone and isolated—sure that no one else could understand what we’re going through. You may not be experiencing this right now (praise God), but the chances are high that you’ve experienced this at some point in your life.
Reading through Psalm 13 earlier this week, I noticed that King David’s words have this feeling of loneliness and isolation: “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Psalm 13:1-2)
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.”
Psalm 13:5-6
“Will you forget me forever?” is the question of a man who is intimately acquainted with God but is, for some reason, now unable to feel His presence. David’s language here is strikingly similar to Jesus’ cry from the cross, which is almost a direct quote from Psalm 22:1.
During times of darkness and isolation, it’s easy to relate to David during his lamentation. Yet it was Jesus who went to the darkest depths of hell. He’s experienced a separation from the Father, which hopefully outstrips what you and I will ever experience. He accepted eternal separation from His Father—the Source of Life—and did it voluntarily, without any personal responsibility. He did it for you. He did it for me.
Are you feeling lonely? Isolated? Jesus knows your situation personally. He knows what you’re going through. He’s felt what you’re feeling. If you’re neck deep in the middle of a season of life that feels insurmountable, fall back on this promise of God: “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
My prayer for you this week is that God will make His presence known in your life. I pray you will spend time searching His word, asking Him to reveal Himself. If you’re in the middle of a period of loneliness and isolation, cry out to God, as those cries never fall on deaf ears.