If you feel lonely, you are not alone. There’s a new study that says almost half of us are experiencing feelings of loneliness. Half! That said, there is also a real God who says, I will never leave you, and that is the good news we are going to camp out on all week here.
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Transcription:
If you feel lonely, you are not alone. There’s a new study that says almost half of us are experiencing feelings of loneliness. They appointed a Minister of Loneliness in the UK, and now there’s a county in California that’s getting ready to appoint one as well. What does that mean? Well, it means that loneliness is a real thing, but you know what? There is also a real God who says, I will never leave you, and that is the good news we are going to camp out on all week on the Bible for Busy People. Welcome. My name is Erica. I’m your host, and we are going to explore what the Bible says this week about the God who promises to never leave us. And you’re going to find that promise by the way, in Hebrews chapter 13, verse five, where it says,
I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.
That’s going to be our verse of the whole week. We’re going to hang our hat on that verse. It’s forever and ever. So, I want to begin today in Psalm 68, but first I want to give you the background. So often, I’m trying to decide between two topics for this podcast. Which series do I want to start? And one of them was loneliness. The other was baby steps of faith. So, this morning I opened my Bible and I felt like God wanted me to turn to Psalm 68, and there was the verse that I’ve been thinking about for days, and I want to share it with you. I’m like, okay, Lord, clearly you want me to share what your Word says about loneliness. I will obey you. I will listen to your still small voice. I trust you Lord. So, join me now in Psalm 68, beginning in verse four. I’ll let you know when we get to the verse.
Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord— rejoice in his presence!
Hold on to those words. “Rejoice in his presence.”
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy. 6 God places the lonely in families;
That’s the verse.
God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
I want you to know right now that if you are feeling lonely, God wants to place you in a family that might look like a small group at your church; that might look like inviting a neighbor over and kindling a friendship with someone who lives close by you. That might involve texting an old friend who you haven’t connected with for years, and it’s the beginning, the seedlings of a friendship that can turn into a family of people that God wants to put around you. But I have found that every time I’ve become part of a friend group, or a family of God’s people, it’s because I stepped out of my comfort zone and said yes to an invitation. That’s where it starts. You have to put yourself out there, but God wants to set you. He wants to place you in a family. If you don’t have people around you who love you, seek them out. Be the one that steps outside the comfort zone and says, okay, deep breath. Here I go. I’m going to try loving people again. People will always let you down, but God never will. And I believe he wants you to take that step of faith this week and join a group. Join a group of people who love Jesus, and you know what’s going to happen? You’re going to get closer to Jesus. It’s been said, your best friend is the one who pushes you closer to God. So, get around God loving people. Alright, I want you to join me now in Deuteronomy 31 verse six. This is a power packed verse because we’ve now just learned, okay, God wants to place you into a family if you don’t have one. That is his heart’s desire. This is God. This is what He does. We just heard from the Bible, He places the lonely in families. Now you’re going to hear that you can be strong and courageous. Are you ready?
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Okay? Are you catching this? God will never abandon you ever. He’s never ever leaving. He’s the God who stays. Join me now in John’s Gospel chapter 14, beginning in verse 15.
“If you love me, obey my commandments.
This is Jesus speaking by the way.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[b] who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—
Do you hear that?
I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
Do you realize what a family you’re a part of, you are a part of God’s family! It wasn’t long after Jesus spoke these words that he was crucified for my sins and your sins. Buried, and then he rose again. And he’s telling us in advance, he’s telling his close friends in advance. Soon you’re not going to see me anymore, but look, because I’m going to live. You’re going to live too, and I’m leaving you alone. When I go back to the Father, I am sending you an advocate, the Holy Spirit who will be with you. We talk about this on the Bible for Busy People, a lot the spirit of God that rose Jesus from the dead is alive in you and in me when we believe.
And I want to address something before we wrap up our time together today. The Trinity is God’s family, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and he invites you into that family. He sets the lonely in families. You are part of God’s family. You have an advocate. You’ve got a friend who sticks closer than a brother. You have a God who will never leave you until next time you are really loved.
Thank you for making time for the Bible for Busy People today. If being part of this community is a blessing to you, it’s super easy to share this podcast with someone you love. We’re all about spreading the hope of Jesus like butter. So, if you’ve got a moment to write a review, boy, we’d really appreciate that. Maybe you need a little prayer today, or you are ready to take that next step with God. I invite you to check out our show notes. You’re going to find lots of encouragement there. This podcast is one branch on a tree called Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and thrive in God’s purpose for your life. If you’ve got a pulse, you’ve got a purpose.
