March 18 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted” (NIV). Children of God in both the Old and New Dispensation have expressed similar thoughts. Loneliness and anxiety of heart are difficult experiences, but there is a reason why the Lord permits them to happen. He makes us feel the pain, pangs and pressure of loneliness and disappointment so that we should find rest for our souls outside of ourselves in Christ.

Our Saviour knows the troubles and afflictions of our hearts. He knows better than we do what is going on within the depths of our being. During His earthly ministry Christ was hurt, reviled and vilified by His own people. His own friends and family did not understand Him. Although Jesus was often surrounded by large crowds He was very lonely. He could not share with anyone what it was like to carry the burden of God’s heavy wrath against sin. Our Saviour felt the isolation and loneliness of hell. He experienced hardship beyond our human comprehension. Jesus was lonely in a way no true believer will ever experience. In our solitude we can go to the Father and pour out our hearts to Him. During the three hours of darkness Christ could not even do that. In His great hour of need our Lord was left alone in order that He might restore us to communion with God and others.

Isn’t it comforting to know that when we ask the Lord to be gracious to us, He hears us for Jesus’ sake? Christ has the power to heal the sorrow of our hearts and to free us from anguish. Today Christ directs us to the fellowship of His people. In the communion of saints we are given opportunity to open our hearts and to share our troubles. We experience a small beginning of renewed life. In the communion of the church we share a common faith, we know what it is to struggle against sin, and we come to realize we would always be lonely and afflicted if it were not for the salvation and deliverance granted to us in Christ. Let us thank God that in Christ He heals the sorrows of our hearts. He places us in the company of His people and gives us a place where we may rejoice in His salvation.