Never Lonely, Never Want Sympathy?

pic courtesy of Mom
She took this picture while we were going for a ride over Christmas break, one of our favorite ways to spend time together.

This year for my quiet time with the Lord, I am using the devotional book My Utmost for His Highest. This is one of the all time classics, but I have never read it. The language is tougher for me to understand. I don’t know what my problem is, but if you don’t talk just like I do, I have a terrible time understanding you. Same thing with reading, so I have to concentrate and think about what Oswald Chambers is saying.

One sentence I did not have to think about to grasp its meaning yesterday was, “When once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely, we never need sympathy, we can pour out all the time without being pathetic”. Wow. That is something for me to think about for a while. I do have to say I am very happy with where God has me at in life. It’s not often that I get lonely or want sympathy…but once in a while. Last month when I was laying on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night with the stomach flu, a little sympathy might’ve been nice! Instead everyone else was sleeping and didn’t even know I could use a pillow and blanket. That is what I was thinking at the time. Now when I look back at it, I know I prefer to be left alone when I am sick. That, however, is not the kind of sympathy I think Mr. Chambers was speaking of.

I think he was speaking of a deep down hurt, that won’t go away and you can’t get away from it. I don’t know if I am to that point in my relationship with Christ. As of right now, I can say that I am, but I have not experienced any deep pains for several years. Don’t get me wrong, I am not praying to find out about this either!

We all know that pains and troubles do come our way, though. I just hope that I am able to have an intimate relationship with Christ all of my days so that no matter comes my way, I will be able to cope. In all big temptations, big and small, or whatever may happen in the future, I have to remember 1Corinthians 10:13.

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. nlt

This verse is referring to falling into sin that you struggle with. I believe it can also speak to a person who is going through some major physical or emotional struggles. He will not allow you to go through more of those kinds of trials than you can handle, either. However, they may be very tough and they will require that you trust in Him lots. A side note…it took me forever to find this verse. I knew what verse I was looking for, but for some reason I thought it was in James! Doesn’t it sound like something James would say? Or is it just me?!!