Remembering The Lonely

This time of year is full of various things that can keep us busy.  There is shopping for presents to do.  There are parties to plan.  There is traveling to visit with family and friends that we haven't seen for a while.  There is so much hustle and bustle all around us.  There are reminders all around us that Christmas is coming soon with all the Christmas lights and displays and of course the music.

There are also activities at Church to plan and coordinate.  People get all stressed out during this time of year and worn out with all the things that are going on.  Sometimes we get so busy with things we forget that there are some people all around us who are hurting and lonely especially during this time of the year.

There are people who have lost loved ones and they feel an extra sadness because they are without their loved one while everyone else is happy and joyful.  There are also people who are shut-in their homes or tucked away in a nursing home with few visitors and they too feel lonely and even unimportant.  There are also many single people who don't have a family or even many friends that struggle during this time of the year.

We may not always know that anyone cares for us, but we can know that God cares for us and those who are in need can know that He cares for them as well.  God loves those who are struggling this time of the year and not just this time of the year. God cares for you and I all the time and He loves us with an unconditional love.

Let us not forget those who are hurting and are lonely this time of the year.  May we remind them or even tell them for the first time of God's great love for them that He demonstrated toward us by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save us for our sins.  The Lord promises never to leave us and to never forsake us.  We can count on the Lord even when it seems that everyone has abandoned us.  We can trust the Lord to be with us even in the loneliness moments of our lives.

Lord,
Thank You that because we know You we are truly never alone.
We praise Your Name.
Help us to reach out to those who are hurting this time of the year with the love that You show us through Jesus.
Lead us and guide us by Your Holy Spirit.
We pray for traveling mercies for those traveling.
We pray for those who have doctor's appointments.
We uplift those who are shut-in somewhere and feel forgotten.
In Jesus Name we pray,
Amen.