HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

This morning I want to share with you a personal experience and trust that you can draw something from my little story. My brothers and sisters, I greet you in the Lord and in the power of His might.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16

Do you ever feel lonely, disappointed or rejected?

Recently, I was at a retirement luncheon at work. Everyone seemed happy and were effortlessly making easy connections with others. I saw my former manager and gave her a smile, but seemed like I was not appreciated. She said something to me that hurt my feelings and knocked me off since I wasn’t expecting to hear it from her. I have great admiration for and love for her, and that very moment seems like it vanished in thin air. It was one of those days I would really like to give the proper answer and walk away but at that very moment, I looked at her and kept my cool. I was hurting inside and asked my inner spirit why, Lord? But I had to represent the God inside me.

I politely smiled my way through the luncheon and finally got to go home. As I drove to my home I pondered over the statement still hurting inside, I asked Jesus, “Why am I letting some thoughtless comment someone made affect me like this?”

There was no deep explanation. There was no Bible verse that instantly popped into my head. There was no sudden rush of peace through my heart. There was only a very gentle reminder in the depths of my soul that Jesus loves me and many more care about me even in my insecurities and all.

Jesus loves me. Simple but so powerfully profound, that one statement grounds me in the truth of who God says I am. The following day I was discussing the comments with another senior coworker who took a “proof” and gave me a word from the book of Proverbs. Later the same day I got an invitation to visit a coworker church and hear him minister the word of God. I accepted and will be there in a few days. Friends can’t make you feel accepted all the time. Accomplishments will never truly make you feel secure. Having lots of people around you does not mean you won’t ever feel lonely or “let down” by some who are close to you. And chocolate, while it is deliciously distracting, is just a little too temporary.

So I turn to the One who is Everlasting, Prince of Peace, and Emmanuel—God with us. I draw close to him so he can help me separate solid truth from shifting emotion. And I’m reminded by the writer of the book of Hebrews that God says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). You may have walked this road before and thought you were alone, but God is always there with you in your time of need. Give God some praise and worship Him in the Spirit of Truth.