Have you ever felt trapped by your past? You know life could be different—freer, healthier, full of hope—but something is not allowing your turnaround. What if God reveals to you the secret to your turnaround? It's not hidden from you on purpose by Him, but the enemy hides it because it brings deliverance. It's simple, scriptural, and yours—if you take responsibility for your heart. But why do you want your turnaround so much… yet hesitate? You long to escape the past dictating your future. You feel stuck because of guilt, shame, and condemnation. Maybe you made a big mistake when you were younger out of ignorance, but it's still haunting you today.
Loneliness is no respecter of persons. It can strike young and old, married and unmarried, male and female, rich and poor, extrovert and introvert. For some, loneliness may result from life circumstances that isolate and prevent us from cultivating relationships in the ways we'd like. For others, loneliness can be present despite being around other people regularly. In both cases, there can be a deep sense of feeling unseen, unknown, unloved, and disconnected from others, which can fuel anxiety, shame, or depression. As Christians, how do we understand loneliness from a biblical perspective to orient ourselves in this painful providence?
Life is filled with twists and turns that trouble us. An evil person may intend us harm. Our home might lie in the pathway of a terrible storm. A child may have made poor decisions leading to addiction. A family member may seem set on ruining our reputation. A medical diagnosis may change the trajectory of our career or ministry. Betrayal by a spouse may upend a marriage we thought secure. Whatever the twist or turn, we need a refuge in whom we can trust. That's why Psalm 91 is such good news. A refuge and stronghold not only exists for us, but if we turn to this Savior, we can cry with the psalmist, "my God, in whom I trust" (Ps. 91:2; italics mine).