From His Heart Devotional 23 July 2020 by Pastor Jeff Schreve
Topic: When You Feel So Alone
When I was growing up, I knew a lady who was going through a terrible time in her marriage. She was feeling the incredibly painful sting of betrayal and separation. Divorce seemed almost unavoidable. With a hurting heart, she would sing to the Gilbert O’Sullivan song, “Alone Again (Naturally).”
To think that only yesterday,
I was cheerful, bright and gay,
Looking forward to, but who wouldn’t do,
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down,
Reality came around
And without so much as a mere touch,
Cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt,
All about God and His mercy
For if He really does exist
Why did He desert me
In my hour of need?
I truly am indeed,
Alone again, naturally
That depressing song was a HUGE hit in the 70’s. While it does express the heart and feelings of one who is really hurting, the lyrics are filled with faithlessness and error.
THE TRUTH
First of all, God does exist. Even though you cannot see Him, He is more real than the sun in the sky. Secondly, HE NEVER DESERTS HIS CHILDREN!
One of the greatest promises in all the Bible is found in Hebrews 13:5, “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” As powerfully straightforward as that verse is in English, it is even more emphatic in the Greek as the Amplified Bible points out – “I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down relax My hold on you! Assuredly not!”
WOW! What a promise from the God who cannot lie and who always keeps His word.
Listen, if you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, He will never leave your side. He will be with you even when:
1. You sin terribly and temporarily turn your back on Him. Whenever we commit a sin that is very awful and shameful, we feel like God must hate us. Not so. He sticks with His children NO MATTER WHAT. If you don’t believe me, just ask Simon Peter who cursed and swore and denied Jesus saying, “I don’t even know the Man!”
2. You lose your job because of cutbacks . or because of something you did or failed to do.
3. You get sick with cancer or some other disease.
4. Your spouse leaves you for another.
5. Your loved ones dies . even though you prayed for a different outcome.
6. You fall into a deep depression because tragedy strikes.
PRAISE IS THE ANSWER
When trouble comes into your life like a flood, don’t sing the blues. Don’t sing those songs that drive you to new depths of depression and make you want to curse God and die. Sing the truth. Fill your heart with praise. God is still with me!! The God who can do anything and forgive any sin and calm any storm is still with me . and He is going to see me through!
Remember, God is the One who is able to give beauty for ashes. He can take the worst of situations and turn them around for good. Regardless of the hurtful circumstances you may be facing today, in the midst of the pain, rise up and say with the Psalmist, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence” (Psalms 42:5).
By the way, that lady who was going through the terrible marriage problems, God did a miracle of reconciliation and she and her husband are happily married to this day, celebrating 56 years together.
Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up!! God has not forgotten you nor forsaken you. Keep trusting in Him!
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
From His Heart Devotional 23 July 2020 by Pastor Jeff Schreve
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.