A Fresh Dose of Hope to Battle Loneliness - Your Nightly Prayer - July 14th

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A Fresh Dose of Hope to Battle Loneliness
Your Nightly Prayer
by Amanda Idleman

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. -Psalm 68:6

SOMETHING TO PONDER

If isolation is hitting hard, this entry reminds you that God gathers and holds the lonely. The other day, my daughter and her best friend were playing a " Would You Rather " game in the back seat of the van. My daughter asked her friend if she would rather be homeless or if she would rather have no one love her. Her immediate response was, " Well, there is no way I’d ever have anyone to love me, because God always loves me and is with me.” I love how eager and honest her response was! She, at the young age of 10, has fully internalized that God loves her always and no matter what! How many of us struggle to believe this, to respond out of the deep conviction that we are loved!

This simple exchange is a reminder to us all that even when we are alone in this world, we are never ever truly alone because God is always with us! We cannot be separated from his love (Romans 8:38-39). In the quietest moments and even on the loud chaotic ones, God is with us. If you are feeling lonely, allow God’s spirit to comfort you. He sets you in places you can find community when you surrender your need over to Him. He sees our circumstances and desires to comfort us, provide the support we need, and reminds us over and over that we are fully loved and known by Him!

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Father,
I thank you that there is no way that I can be separated from your amazing love for me. Even when I am totally alone, I am still seen and known by you. I ask that you would graciously meet my need for support and community. Set me into a healthy spiritual family that can support me through this stage of life. Show me how to get involved in my community and build quality relationships. I thank you for your great love for me.
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

What’s one step you can take to grow your community in this season?
How can you lean into God’s presence more when you are feeling lonely?
Find ways to serve others while you are waiting for relationships to blossom in your life.

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/fizkes

Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is encouraging others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for Your Nightly Prayer, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, Your Daily Prayer, and more. She has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com, Biblestudytools.com, and Christianity.com. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas, alongside her husband’s companion devotional, Shepherd. You can find out more about Amanda on her Facebook Page or follow her on Instagram.

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