Sitting with God in Your Loneliness

By Michelle Roselius

Loneliness swept over me as I sat in the hospital holding my sick baby girl. Not only was my husband deployed overseas, but I was terrified our little girl might die. RSV consumed her lungs, and no amount of oxygen helped. I was alone and afraid.

Yet in that moment, God reassured me that I was not alone. While I didn’t know how this lonely trial would end, He was with me in the trial.

Looking through the Bible in the hospital, I likewise saw over and over again that God doesn’t rescue people from their loneliness and trials. Instead, He meets each person in them.

God was in the burning bush next to Moses (Exodus 3). God was in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3). God rested in the lions’ den with Daniel (Daniel 6). God went into the king’s quarters with Esther (Esther 5). Jesus was in the boat with the disciples during the storm (Mark 4:35–41). God then graciously sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in us.

His Holy Spirit, living and active in me, would give me the strength I needed to make it through. He also reminded me that I am not my own—that He bought me with a price and I belong to Him (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).

The Creator of the world sent the Savior of the world to be Immanuel, God with us. No matter how lonely we may feel, we are never truly alone, because God is sitting in our loneliness with us. No matter how long the loneliness lasts, He will never leave. You are His temple, His dwelling place.

After six long days in the hospital, my daughter and I were finally able to go home. I still missed my husband, but all three of my daughters and I were together. God was with me in that hospital room, and He is with you wherever you find yourself today. What a reassuring thing to remember.

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank You for always being with us in every moment of our loneliness. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Help us to remember that no matter how long the loneliness lasts, You are in it with us. In Your faithful name, amen.