Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were. Look away from me, that I may rejoice again before I depart and am no more. –Psalm 39:12, 13
Grief and sorrow can cause people to behave in ways that go against human nature. We are created by God to be social beings; we need interaction with other people and we thrive on human contact. Were we to remove from our lives this vital component of the human experience, all aspects of life are thrown out of balance. One of the results of facing problems that seem to not go away is the removing of ourselves from those who might otherwise have offered comfort. “Leave me alone,” we find ourselves saying. “I can do this all by myself. I don’t need anyone.” We then cut off interaction with others thus placing our well-being in a perilous condition.
Cutting ourselves off from contact with other people is the last place we would ever want to be when facing the trials of life. Have you ever needed some time alone? Certainly you have. We all need some time away by ourselves to think things through and contemplate what we are facing. However, to completely isolate ourselves from everyone else is a dangerous practice.
David of the Old Testament was a man familiar with grief, sorrow, and suffering. Many times he found himself facing overwhelming odds and personal struggles. However, something David always had going for him was a network of support. Fortunately for him, David always had people in his life that cared for him. He also maintained a relationship with God. During his darkest and most desperate hours he continually looked to God for help and strength. But even David struggled with wondering why God had allowed his problems to come to him in the first place; to the point of actually asking God to look away from him and in essence leave him alone.
Whatever you are facing today, remember that God loves you, cares for you, and is concerned about what you are facing. Do not make the mistake of taking on a self-imposed isolation from God or other people. God will come to our aide and He will strategically place in our lives people who want to reach out to us. Let them in, open your heart, and accept the support that comes our way during the trials of life. As plants need water, so we need the healing rain of God’s love in our lives.
God is with us, and He will place in our lives caring people who will encourage us in our times of need. Keep going, continue trusting in the Lord.
Never give up.
