Rough morning for me already…..but this will pass…..
My spirit is so unsettling.
This devotional always touches my heart.
The words here really cut painfully deep for me, especially “the social isolation.” A coping mechanisms for many us, but an oh so very soerly one!!!
In the paragraph below that is highlighted in blue, you will see I have for my “header” to my blog. The words and meaning are very special to me! I hold on to those words with dear life. Some days are extremely hard to do so, and they get lost in my struggles. But, somehow, they manage to make their way back and once again I can hold on to “their hope.”
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1
Abandoned. Neglected. Alone.
Many of us share these painful struggles. Unfortunately, many of us have struggled with them from very early in life. People from dysfunctional families often feel that they were never acceptable to their parents. Many struggle with the feeling that they can never be good enough to receive attention. If reinforced by rejection or abandonment from friends, colleagues, or other significant people in our lives, we can easily conclude that we don't really 'belong' at all.
Humans have a deep longing to belong, to be emotionally bonded with others. Social isolation can be very painful to us. But social isolation may have felt like the only option open to us as children. Attempts at closeness may have meant experiencing control, abuse, rejection or loss. We may have pulled away to protect ourselves, even though it left us lonely and afraid.
God comes to our lonely, anxious hearts and whispers our name. God says "I see both the fear you have of closeness and the deep longing you have to belong. I have come to comfort you and to respond to your need. I have been seeking a relationship with you. You belong. You belong to me. You are my child."
It may frighten us - this invitation to belong to God - even though we long for it. It may frighten us because we expect pain and disappointment, over-control and rejection. But gradually, as we continue the healing process, we can allow God to meet this deep need. We can allow ourselves to belong more and more to God.
Help me, God, to allow myself to belong to you. Thank you for calling me by name. Thank you for saying 'you are mine'. I want to belong to you, God. Help me to heal, Great Physician, So that I can accept my place in your family. Take away my fear, Father, give me the courage to belong to you.
Amen
Copyright 1991 Dale and Juanita Ryan
src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type="text/javascript">
Thank you for sharing this, which touched a deep part of my heart. God wants us so much to be well. As you would say to me, JBR, "sitting here listening, dear one" xxx
ReplyDeletetoday you've touched on something that i haven't dealt with 100%, thank you for the insight you share!
ReplyDeleteWow. That's pretty powerful! I love the changes to your blog btw.
ReplyDeleteJust wonderful! And just what I needed to read today, Just Be Real. Being able to surrender it all to a higher power has helped me so much in my recovery and survival.
ReplyDeleteI hope your day gets less rough and that you have a wonderful weekend.
Take care, my friend--
Melinda
That was beautiful thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe paragraph in blue comforted me greatly. Thanks, Real ~ Allison
ReplyDeleteI know the pain of social isolation. Thanks for sharing this post JBR.
ReplyDeleteJBR sorry for you pain. Hang in there.
ReplyDeletejust poped in to wish you a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteYour not alone, I'm right here :) This journal/blog is a healing process in itself for you, I am glad you can put down how you feel day to day. God loves you, let his love shine down on you today and make you smile if only a little.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
You are going to MAKE IT, girl! I know it!
ReplyDeleteI love this post...very powerful. I once read a book that said, "If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it." Thanks for the link to my blog :)
ReplyDeleteFinally Free-Glad you enjoyed the post. Love the quote about the 'refrigerator.' That is cool (no pun intended). U R welcome for the link.
ReplyDeleteStevie-I know you are one busy guy at the AA meeting in Cocoa Beach. Looking forward to the update. Thank you for the cheer! I need it!
Tabby-My weekend gal! Thanks for your continued support. Has been a hard day for me, but through His grace the evening has arrived!
Mike-So glad to see you. I know things are a bit rough for you, and hope you will be able to get back to blogging soon!
Stuck-Thank you.
AD-Sorry you struggle with this also. Yeah, it ain't fun!
Allison-I am glad you were able to gain some comfort in the words today.
T.Anne-Appreciate your visits, thanks!
Melinda-I take back what I said earlier on your blog.....yes, we are more alike than not. Thanks for you return visits and encouragement.
Michele-Thank you for your return. I was all over the place today with these stupid templates, I was just not happy with any. So went back to the original.
Shadow-Glad this post could help in some way. Blessings dear one.
Lil-You listen well. Thank you for using the same medicine on me as I do you. Blessings.
Thank you, I needed to read this tonight...I am sending you warm thoughts and safe hugs...and my 'virtual friendship' is enclosed.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your support more than you know...
~ Grace
Hey Grace, good to see you out and about. Missed you. Ditto on the support dear one!
ReplyDeleteThank you for you messages that you left me on my blog.I'm doing much better.I have decided to personally post a thank you on every one's blog that left me a message of support.when I get done visitng every one I will post a new posting today.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mike. Glad for your return!
ReplyDeleteI still have those moments of pulling away, shutting out the rest of the world. It's my familiarity, it's a place I recognized for so long. Slowly I'm uncurling my fingers and learning to reach out, to be part of something. Beautiful post dear friend. (Hugs)Indigo
ReplyDelete