Daily Delight

Breathe in, breathe out. I tell myself to remain calm, collected and confident. But I can’t fight the pang in my heart as I look at all the unfamiliarity around me. For days I have struggled with loneliness and the feeling of unworthiness that follows suit. I feel like I haven’t fitted in, that I haven’t tried hard enough to engage and that I’m just not good enough. Disillusioned and exhausted by all this overthinking, I huddle in a ball and cry myself to sleep.

I have heard so many quotes about loneliness describing it as a “space to figure out who you are” or a “break from the world”. But really, it’s a horrible, uncontrollable feeling that arises when our need to be accepted is denied. We humans are community driven creatures, inherent to who we are is our need for relationship. Loneliness is a natural experience when we are cut off from community; from sharing our hearts with others.

Jesus led a very lonely life. He had many disciples, yes, but imagine the burden it was to carry the knowledge of his purpose without being able to share it openly? And where did He find His solace? ...in His Father.

Seeing God as our deepest friendship is something I have taken a long time to thoroughly realise. But it is a life-changing realisation. For, those who are lonely will find comfort in the fellowship of their Father. He arises in His peace and mercy to cover us in His caring presence (Isaiah 40).

 Take your burdened heart to God, cast your anxieties on Him and ask Him to be your daily strength, and your companion in the midst of the loneliness (Isaiah 33). Prepare a way for Him in your broken place (Isaiah 40). Trust me, the best comfort is found in His presence.

My dear sisters, my heart goes out to those who are lonely, who are feeling worthless, thinking that this is their fault. You that you are loved beyond comprehension, by Someone who died so that you could find solace in the shadow of His wings. You are worthy of great things, and don’t believe anything less. Let this loneliness be a springboard to finding deeper friendship with our Father. 

{photo: @jordanamae}

About the Author

Jess Palmer

Jess is a designer and innovator in Pretoria, South Africa. Her heart is to express the beauty of our Father’s heart through all forms of art, but mainly through her design, poetry and photography. She desires to invest in the lives of people around her — to journey with them in cultivating their God-given potential. If anywhere, you will find Jess musing in a coffee shop or wandering contemplatively in a garden.

Her blog: https://astrangerhereblog.wordpress.com/

Check out her design on Instagram: @salt.seed