Scrolling through my social media at the end of a long day, I paused at a group of familiar faces smiling at the camera. I had just seen several of these friends earlier this week at a fellowship meeting, and then again at church that morning. They hadn’t mentioned that they were going out to this local event together. I would have loved to attend with them. I felt the sharp sting of being uninvited.
My husband’s community is small and there are few opportunities for organic connection among the spouses. We’ve been here for a few months, and I’ve invited a few women to coffee and started attending a weekly meet-up. While there have been the beginnings of friendships forming, there hasn’t been the reciprocation of invitation. Yet.
This is our sixth assignment in 14 years, not including a few moves back home during deployments. Starting over is always hard.
When lonliness threatens to take up permanent residence in my heart, I have a decision to make: allow that hurt to grow into bitterness and resentment or find a way to be at peace. Usually that means a battle between lies and truth.
The lie says: you are not loved. But the truth is this: “‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness’” (Jeremiah 31:3b).
The lie says: you are alone. But the truth is this: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
The lie says, I am forgotten. But the truth is this: “‘I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me’” (Isaiah 49:15b, 16).
If you are feeling lonely in this season, I invite you to to reject the lies that will embitter your heart and cling to the truths that you are so loved, never alone, always remembered. I pray that you will find the friends and connection your heart longs for and the Lord knows you need.