— Five Minute Friday —

The Beauty of Loneliness {Five Minute Friday}

August 9, 2013

I see her…just married, a brand new missionary pastor’s wife in a brand new country. 2,000 miles from all family and friends. Thrust quickly and often into an unfamiliar medical system because of a life threatening pregnancy condition.

She was me. Lonely.

It doesn’t even come close to describing how it was played out in my heart. Each morning brought the stark reality that a new trail was being blazed. It was as if a construction crew came in every day and gutted the corners of my soul, leaving it empty over and over again.

I begged God during those days for a friend, for a mentor. For the woman-to woman spiritual fellowship that is so essential to growth in the Lord.

The friendship that my husband and I shared grew even deeper as we clung to each other and to God- our only.

And gradually, through the pain, I learned how to let my God fill the gutted places in my heart. And oh, how He did!

How He still does!

I’m no longer lonely. I have a wonderful and perfect friend Who banishes the definition of that word.

This is the beauty of loneliness. 

 

On life’s pathway I am never lonely,
My Lord is with me, my Lord divine;
Ever present Guide, I trust Him only,
No longer lonely, for He is mine.

I shall not be lonely in my sorrow,
He will sustain me until the end;
Darkest night He turns to brightest morrow,
No longer lonely! He is my Friend.

I shall not be lonely in the valley
Tho’ shadows gather, I will not fear;
He has promised ever to uphold me,
No longer lonely! He will be near.

Refrain:

No longer lonely, no longer lonely,
For Jesus is the Friend of friends to me;
No longer lonely, no longer lonely,
For Jesus is the Friend of friends to me.

“No Longer Lonely” by Robert Harkness

{This song became one of my favourites during our early days as missionaries in Canada}

Linking up:

12 thoughts on “The Beauty of Loneliness {Five Minute Friday}”

  1. Isn’t it amazing how God uses lonliness for our good? My husband is a Union Traveler, meaning he lives and works in a different state than our daughter and I for 360 days out of the year. I was a lukewarm Christian when my husband first walked out the door 6 years ago. God has used this absolute nothingness to bring me closer to Him. And it is through Him that I have found my way. And only with His guidance can I show others that good can come from this loneliness.

    I love the lyrics you posted. I am off on a mission now to find the music to go with! Have a very blessed day! ~JuliAnne

    1. JuliAnne, thank you so much for sharing your heart! It sounds like you’ve had your share of loneliness as well, but have found the hope and beauty that is waiting in that place.
      I believe the complete song is in the Living Hymns book. It has a nice melody. 🙂
      By the way,this morning I tried to go to your blog and read/comment on your FMF post (since we were ‘neighbours’ in the link-up}, but WP wouldn’t let me even view your page. 🙁 I am having trouble getting on to some people’s blogs lately….not sure why. So sorry!

  2. Thanks for the encouragement, Honey. I remember how Jesus took those early days and made us rejoice in Him alone! With David Livingstone, we say, “I never made a sacrifice.”

    1. Compared to Christ, our sacrifices aren’t much. But on the human level, they are very great. Thanks for being there every step of the way!

  4. Yes–loneliness can bring us closer to Jesus. Just like every hard thing in our lives, God uses the bad to give us good: to draw us to himself.
    Thank you for this!

    1. Thank you so much for visiting, Jaimie! Yes, I’m so glad that God is always working things out for good in our lives as we trust Him.

  6. Thank you for your words, Leah. Your words remind me that sometime when we think we know what we need, i.e. a mentor or friend, God is saying, ‘Not yet’, first take my hand and draw nearer to me'”
    blessings,
    Gay @Captive Heart

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