Does Anybody Get Me?

Many people have shared with me their feelings of loneliness, not measuring up, feeling unwanted, or unneeded. I too feel left out at times - and have struggled with it for many years. Someday, I'll tell you my whole story, but Philip and I got married very young and started a family immediately. At the time when our friends were going to college parties, getting their first jobs, and spontaneously going out, we were changing diapers, waking for midnight feedings, and saving as much money as possible. Now I'm still at a different place in life than all the people my age.

There are so many reasons that make me feel different; like an outsider; rejected; not able to fit in; alone. In fact, I just had these same feelings recently. When I get these feelings, I force myself to pray. I run to God and I ask Him to help me serve the people I'm around.

Sometimes I cry out to Him, "I want to be loved this time! Can I please just fit in? Can I please find someone that gets me? Can someone be my friend this time?" He says to me, "I love you. You fit here, with Me. I completely understand all your wants, desires and needs. I am your friend and always will be. Go serve. Go show them Me. I've given you gifts that only you have. There are certain characteristics of Me, that can only be shown through you. Go. I'm with you."

I was sobbing one day feeling like a failure and unable to live up to expectations. God said, "My grace is enough."

 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9,10

There is one verse that I cling to when I don't fit in. It's become a 'mantra' for me. It's from the book of Song of Songs, which is a picture of our marriage to Christ. In that book the groom (Christ) speaks to His bride (you and me) and He says,

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. Song of Songs 4:7

Over Thanksgiving this past year, I was so down. Uncontrollable crying for some things I couldn't even figure out why. The thought came to me (perhaps it was from God, I don't know) that every time I read my Bible - no matter the book - I would look for what God is saying about me. God is always talking about us. He's always thinking about us. And it's amazing what He says about us if we are looking.

We are His house. Hebrews 3  We are masterpieces - works of art. Ephesians 2

We are His children. Galatians 3

Good works flow over and out of us. Through Christ, we have the power to make our thoughts obey Him. 2 Corinthians 9 and 10

           We are the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12
           We were formed by His hands for His purposes. Romans 9

Jesus even prayed for us - you and me- in the Garden before He died! (John 17:20-23)

Jesus makes us beautiful. Ecclesiastes 3

                              God directs us. Proverbs 20:25 God supports our decisions. Isaiah 30:21

I pray some of this is helpful for you, as you struggle through feelings of loneliness. For me, I know, the struggle is not an easy one. It's not an 'Oh, here's a solution. Now it's fixed.' type problem. It's in my make-up. Maybe God gave it to me so I would continually run to Him. I don't know.

Since Thanksgiving of last year, I've also been praying this prayer when I'm down and feeling unable - "Create in me a pure heart, Oh God. And renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation. And uphold me with your free Spirit." When my heart is focused on Jesus, life falls into place. And it's funny...Jesus is the one that needs to focus my heart back on Him. I can't do it without Him. So thankful He promises to be with me always.

But by the grace of God, I am what I am. 1 Corinthians 15:10