I found this little pearl here:
http://www.awildernessvoice.com/Lonely.htm
By: A.W. Tozer
The loneliness of the Christian results from his walk with God in an ungodly world, a walk that must often take him away from the fellowship of good Christians as well as from that of the unregenerate world. His God-given instincts cry out for companionship with others of his kind, others who can understand his longings, his aspirations, his absorption in the love of Christ; and because within his circle of friends there are so few who share his inner experiences he is forced to walk alone. The unsatisfied longings of the prophets for human understanding caused them to cry out in their complaint, and even our Lord Himself suffered in the same way.
The man [or woman] who has passed on into the divine Presence in actual inner experience will not find many who understand him. He finds few who care to talk about that which is the supreme object of his interest, so he is often silent and preoccupied in the midst of noisy religious shoptalk. For this he earns the reputation of being dull and over-serious, so he is avoided and the gulf between him and society widens. He searches for friends upon whose garments he can detect the smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces, and finding few or none he, like Mary of old, keeps these things in his heart.
It is this very loneliness that throws him back upon God. His inability to find human companionship drives him to seek in God what he can find nowhere else.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11)
Jul 26, 2011 @ 16:45:02
It is this very loneliness that throws him back upon God. His inability to find human companionship drives him to seek in God what he can find nowhere else.
Forgive me Lord for focusing on my loneliness when I should have been focused on you. Forgive me for not being a good steward of my time and allowing the worries of the day to rule my heart. Forgive me for the pettiness and resentments to creep in and for the hurts I have caused others, thinking
they did it, when it was me. Forgive me Lord for my unforgiveness and lead
me back to the path of righteousness in Jesus Christ. Heal me. Amen
Jul 26, 2011 @ 17:19:18
Karen, yes, it IS that lonliness that throws one back to God. I am reminded of the words of Peter: “where else can i go, Lord?” There is nowhere else and no better place to be. I too need to ask God to forgive me for focusing so much on being alone and instead start enjoying the fellowship He desires to have with me. Thank you for reminding me.
Jul 26, 2011 @ 22:18:17
AWESOME!! Love Tozer, this is great, thanks.
Jul 27, 2011 @ 12:50:11
Pat, it spoke for me. Yes, Tozer is good.
Aug 07, 2011 @ 00:59:53
His words are so heartfelt in this article, you get the feeling Mr. Tozer undoubtedly experienced such loneliness himself. Of course, everything I have read of Mr.Tozer’s was heartfelt, how committed to the Lord he was!
Like Karen, I feel the need for repentance now. I feel rather ashamed for ever feeling sorry for myself since leaving the apostate church. Thank God for His mercy to have drawn me out!
Sep 04, 2011 @ 21:00:37
Geri, yes, for sure he must have felt that lonliness to have been able to write about it so well.
Sep 05, 2011 @ 21:18:08
Excellent i wanted to post this as my fb status but it’s way too long. This is exactly how i feel since i was baptised then it even got worse. a Wiseman once said ‘if you haven’t cried out to God recently then there is trouble’
Sep 06, 2011 @ 15:30:41
Jean-Pierre, you shared a wonderful quote with us. Thank you! Yes, sometimes it does get worse. I can not pretend it does not. However, I believe these times of “worseness” are just meant for us to draw near to Him. Remember, now that you are a child of God, Satan probably hates you even more. BUT GOD>>> BUT GOD>>> He is greater than that ol’ deceiver. He is greater than that ol’ trickster. Jesus has already won the victory for us. It does not mean we never suffer or are never in a battle. It just means we never have to walk alone through anything ever again. Jesus is right there with us. He has his sleeves rolled up, ready to do battle for us. He can kick the devil’s you-know-what quicker than lightening. Jesus is more than enough. When having done all, stand.
If you really want to put Tozer on Facebook. Put it into a note, instead of your status. That way people can read it as a note.
Sep 06, 2011 @ 15:44:21
“If you really want to put Tozer on Facebook. Put it into a note, instead of your status. That way people can read it as a note”
Brilliant thank you.
Feb 05, 2012 @ 18:28:45
Awesome!
Feb 07, 2012 @ 23:34:20
wow i think Tozer wrote that with me in his mind…
Feb 11, 2012 @ 18:08:18
I just got back home from cleaning house for 5 days for a family member to come home from the hospital. Her husband died 2 years ago after a long illness. She was in a car accident and required the jaws of life to get her out of the car. My mom is
ill out of state and I am contacting homes and retirement for her. This morning I got a call from someone regarding my former spouse who was taken to the hospital 2 weeks ago. I don’t have any information as to what happened, his condition, or how to help. My sister in law is talking to my husband right now concerning her stress and I feel like a freight train hit me. T
These life situations are just the challenges that we all go through…we are not above the Master. It is times like this, facing crisis and being pushed to the limit, that we have to roll this over to God. We then have to let go of expecting our own outcome but realize that God’s overarching purpose is above ours…He presents us with things that put to powder our own small grievances, and catapults us into action of service to others. We may feel cast down, but I know that I know that we are not cast out. We can’t focus on the circumstances, just do what we can for someone else who needs comfort and care, and know that Christ in us has been involved in our service and sorrows.
May God bless you all with deep repentance and joyous epiphanies of Christ in the midst.
Mar 16, 2012 @ 00:36:58
The world is getting smaller for Christians. Lawlessness is abounding!! And it causes Christians to feel lonelier. But the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard. It’s true, the closer u get to God, the smaller your circle of friends become.
(
But I would rather have God in my life and walk closely to Him, than have all those friends!!
Great blog RH