The holidays are drawing near. Many may wonder if they will be alone yet again this year. Friends and family may be far away or busy with their own plans, but no matter the circumstance, there is one who knows your loneliness. No one has to go through life all alone.
I love Psalm 118:14 (KJV). It says, “The LORD is my strength and song and is become my salvation.”
Who is this LORD? Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son. The psalmist is rejoicing in the One who can get us through any crisis. He is our strength! When we feel alone, our LORD is with us. We can be joyful because we have a constant companion!
How does this work? Jesus came as a baby, then was crucified on a cross, and rose again. His death was God’s way of dealing with sin in the world. Jesus paid the price God requires. Sin must be punished. Jesus took the punishment on behalf of all mankind. When He rose from the grave, He ascended into Heaven. Then the Holy Spirit came to reside in the hearts of all Believers. Consequently no one who has repented of their sin and called upon the name of Jesus for salvation from the punishment for sin is alone. The Holy Spirit comes to live in the heart of the Believer.
Therefore the LORD truly is with us, giving us strength to endure any situation. When life gets tough, I go to Psalm 118:24: “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
The LORD already knows what a day will bring, whether sorrow, hardship, or joy. He knows and understands our trials and fears. He is aware of our disappointments. Yet, despite all we face, He never leaves or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). We expect to suffer trials and troubles, because we live in a sin filled world where the sin nature present in each of us has predominance. We must constantly strive to obey our LORD. With the help of the Holy Spirit and guidance from the God’s Word, the Bible, we can choose to live a life that is pleasing to God. We can choose to embrace the life He gives us, rejoicing in each day.
To enjoy the happiness we can find in each day, we must choose to rejoice and be glad despite our circumstances. We may repeat that part “we will rejoice” with gritted teeth, but we can know with certainty that we are not alone in our anguish.
I will rejoice and be glad! I choose to trust Him with each day of my life. That trust gives me peace because I know He is faithful to do what He promises. Without Him, I will fall and fail. With Him, I can overcome.
Whatever your circumstance, God can help.
