On a more personal note, I received word that a young man whose wedding I had participated in had been killed in Iraq.
People all over the world are suffering in many different ways. One of the worst things about suffering is the feeling of helplessness and loneliness.
"Where is God?" we wonder.
Punk-Pop music group Green Day won nearly a dozen Video Music Awards for their album that contains a song about loneliness called Boulevard Of Broken Dreams.
Take a look at the intense, picturesque images in their words. "I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known. Don't know where it goes but it's home to me and I walk alone. I walk this empty street on the boulevard of broken dreams where the city sleeps and I'm the only one and I walk alone."
"My shadow's the only one that walks beside me. My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating. Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me. Till then I walk alone."
Green Day wishes "someone" out there would find them so they don't have to face the world all alone.
Mother Teresa said, "The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved."
The Bible's book of Philippians was written by a guy named Paul and it was actually a letter. He writes this letter as he is sitting in jail. He's been beaten, arrested and locked up for telling people about God. Soon, he will be executed for the same reason. Paul had every reason to feel alone. He had every reason to feel that life was unfair. Instead of being lost in despair, Paul writes that he is fine and even joyful. Paul shares his secret with us. He says, "I don't know if I am going to live or die but I am not worried. No matter what happens, live in a way that brings honor to God.
Don't worry about your troubles. Instead, take them all to God in prayer. Tell Him everything. When you do that, He'll give you a peace that is far beyond anything we could ever understand. That peace will soothe your troubled heart and mind. God is near. He's never left you. Choose to think of life's good things.
Put your faith into practice and God's peace will be with you.
Dorothy Bernard said, "Courage is fear that has said its prayers." Life is not always easy. It may seem like we're walking alone on a boulevard of broken dreams. The good news is that we never have to walk alone. God is near. He invites us to talk to Him in prayer. He promises to give us a peace in spite of all that's happening around us even if the thought of being peaceful in hard times seems illogical.
My prayer for you this week is that you'll remember you're not alone.
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Steven Skelley is a published author of several nonfiction works and the novella The Gargoyle Scrolls. He has been a newspaper columnist, travel writer, news writer, ordained minister, music director, creative arts director, theater reviewer and tennis instructor.
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