Are you lonely?

Are you lonely? As I’m writing this, I’m in a hotel room, trying to get home to my wife. Several flights have been canceled because of a crisis in the country, and I’m not exactly sure when I’ll be able to get home. That leaves me, at this moment, feeling unbelievably homesick. There are moments when life feels that way, right? We long for something more—something like home. I remember planting trees in college, trying to make enough money to get back to school. The area was remote, and I was exhausted and lonely. I finally made it to a hotel room, called my parents, and just the sound of my mom and dad’s reassuring voices reminded me that I wasn’t always going to feel lost—at some point, I’d find my way home. Jesus knew this longing. “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16, NIV) He would “call home,” reconnecting with His Father. My friend, we are citizens of heaven. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20, NIV) Even though we live here on Earth, our hearts ache for the place where we truly belong. That sense of homesickness—that feeling that we don’t belong here—isn’t weakness. It’s evidence that we were made for eternity. And until that day, we live with the promise of God’s presence: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV) I’m hoping to find my way home today. But even if I don’t, I know that God will walk with me every single step of the way. Jesus, thank You for understanding this ache of homesickness that we often feel—a longing for a place where everything will be whole again. When we feel far from peace, remind us that You are near, and that one day, we’ll all be home with You. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen. You may feel lonely, but I promise you there’s probably someone else—especially as we approach Valentine’s Day tomorrow—who feels lonely too. If you reach out to them today, you could be the Jesus that I know. Never forget, my friend, you are a miracle. Your friend, Grant Fishbook ____________________