All By Myself...Not Really!

Recently, due to circumstances beyond my control, I became intimately familiar with the physical pain associated with the treatment of a fairly serious illness. In fact, for the past 8 1/2 months, I've experienced physical pain in my body, for one reason or another, on a fairly regular basis. I've also discovered that doctors have a pill for just about any kind of physical pain you might be experiencing! However, the one pain they don't have a pill for, and often times don't even recognize, is the pain associated with the emotional isolation and loneliness that sometimes accompany such difficult physical trials...

Although the pain of isolation and loneliness is just as real as the physical pain, it is often overlooked, not just by doctors, but by those closest to those who are hurting, as well. For one thing, emotional pain is just not as obvious as the physical scars from surgery or a cast from a broken bone; it's easier to camouflage emotional pain with a smile, some pleasantries about the weather, and because, more often than not, people see what they want to see.

Well, I was thinking about all this tonight while walking my dog and I was reminded that Jesus was intimately familiar with physical pain. For example, the merciless beating and scourging He suffered before being nailed to the cross. And of course there's the incomprehensible physical agony associated with being crucified. But, in the hours leading up to His crucifixion and, even during His crucifixion, we get a glimpse into the overwhelming loneliness and isolation the man Jesus experienced as He walked through arguably the most difficult hours of His earthly life.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus didn't hide his sorrow and loneliness from His disciples. In fact, he took His three best friends, Peter, James and John with Him and told them, "my soul is very sorrowful, even to death; stay with me, watch with me." (Mt. 26:38). But they fell asleep. They just couldn't comprehend the depth of the emotional pain Jesus was experiencing. Even when He fell on His face and begged His Heavenly Father to let this cup pass from Him, rather than comfort Him, His friends fell asleep again. (Mt. 26:39). But, perhaps the most gut wrenching example of Jesus' loneliness and complete isolation is when, while hanging on the cross in excruciating physical pain, He cried out to His Heavenly Father and saying, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mt. 27:46).

Jesus gets it. He was despised and rejected by people, a man of sorrows, and well acquainted with grief. (Isa 53:3). He not only gets "it," He gets you - He gets me. He understands what it feels like to be alone - to be forsaken. But, because He cried out, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?" we don't have to. No matter how lonely or isolated we feel, we are never alone because He will never, never, never leave us or forsake us. (Heb. 13:5).

Tonight, as I walked my dog, I found comfort in knowing that Jesus understands not only my physical pain, but my loneliness as well. And my tears of sadness became tears of gratitude for the price He paid to call me His friend - He knows everything about me and He loves me completely. And here's the really good news: He understands your pain and your loneliness, too. No matter what you are going through; no matter who is or is not there with you through your darkest hour; He will never, never, never leave you. He was forsaken so that you will never be forsaken. May you find comfort and peace as you experience His loving Presence wherever you are, no matter what you are going through...