As I walked out the door this morning for my walk, I looked up at the night sky hoping to see it filled with beautiful stars shining down on me, but that was not to be. I did however see one star, one lonely star in a sky filled with clouds.
That star reminded me of something. How often have I felt all alone, without a friend in the world who would care to walk beside me? Because so many of my friends live on the other side of the River, in another country, sometimes it still feels like I am walking alone.
This morning as I looked up and saw the one lonely star, I was reminded of one simple fact: things are not always as they appear. Although I could only see one star, one lonely star, that did not mean that the others did not exist, they were just hidden from my view. About a half hour into my walk I looked up and saw something beautiful, the clouds had parted and I could see a sky filled with stars. A great big smile took over my face. I knew it! I knew that there were more stars behind those clouds. I knew that just because it seemed like that star was alone the fact remained that was a lie.
Far too often we believe the lie. Because of fear, we guard our hearts to the point where we don't allow others into our lives; we don't allow others to make an investment in us. We shut out the people who God wants us to walk with on this journey called life. We live in fear of living.
I love how Deuteronomy 31:6 says it, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."" So even if I feel alone, the truth is God is with me, he will never leave me, he told me in his Book. He has surrounded me with friends who love me and want the best for me, friends who invest in me and I in them.
Am I alone? No, absolutely not! Does it feel like it sometimes? Yes it does.
As I arrived home from my walk, I looked up at the sky again. The clouds had rolled back in and there were far fewer stars visible in the sky. I still had to smile, because I knew the truth; that one lonely star wasn't so lonely after all.
Abba Father, today as my friends read and think about the truth in this post I ask you to allow the truth that the are never alone to penetrate deep into their hearts. Help them to know that they are deeply loved. Thank you, Father. In Jesus' Name... amen!
