Living with environmental sensitivities to manmade things often means a struggle with some isolation and loneliness. (And yes, I still definitely interact with other people (in-person) and encourage other people to do too so regardless of these limitations – even if those interactions are lessened in some ways.)
For myself, I can say that Jesus is my Friend, unfailing. He never leaves me. He always cares. I am assured of His love even in times when some of my prayers are not answered in the way I’d prefer.
I came to know Jesus as my Saviour and Lord, and my Friend, many years ago when I was a child. (The day when I made my decision to come to Him and prayed with my sister at home is to be remembered again tomorrow!)
We have an older cassette we were listening to this week. And then I found the same one digitalized online. So it is shared here with you. The message is by Billy Graham and it was called, “The Cure for Loneliness”.
Becoming a Christian, Receiving God’s Gift of Eternal Life –
A decision to become a Christian is a personal decision. No one else can decide this for you.
Eternal life is a gift. It cannot be earned. It is not forced. It must be received. It is offered but each person responds to either accept it or reject it.
God will bring you to understanding Who He is and what He has done for you if you respond to what He has already shown you with wanting to know more. Ask Him to help you to understand and He will. He seeks you first and loves you first, before you ever do.
When you understand your need of the Lord Jesus as God Who came in the flesh to be the Saviour – that your sin is so unholy that it stands between you and a relationship with God – and you understand that Jesus has died on your behalf to pay for sin’s penalty, was buried, and rose again, and you want to turn to Him – to put your faith in Who Jesus is and what He has done for you because you realize that cannot save yourself, we encourage you to tell God so.
This is the example prayer for salvation, led by Billy Graham at the end of his message –
“Oh God, I am a sinner.
I’m sorry for my sin.
I’m willing to turn from my sin.
I receive Christ as Saviour,
I confess Him as Lord from this moment on.
I want to follow Him
and serve Him in the fellowship of His church,
In Christ’s Name, Amen.”
– (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, “The Cure for Loneliness” as recorded on the cassette “Jesus My Friend Unfailing”, 1986)
For further counsel, please contact the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Their ministry has many resources to help you grow in your faith as well as numerous people who can speak personally with you, including in some other languages. Here are the website(s) for that:
Home – Peace With God (and Home – Going Farther)
A Note from Joy –
God designed everyone with emotions and ways to express these. It is NORMAL to grieve, and NORMAL to get upset about injustices, disappointments, and wrongdoing. Christians sometimes get discouraged too; it’s part of being a human.
In times of my deepest discouragement and grief over losses I experience, even when I was unable to physically voice my need for help, I still called out to Jesus; for He is God and hears me, even the cry of my heart! He sees all that concerns me.
He is the One who let the storm on the sea of Galilee to be stormy yes, but only for a period of time, not for always. He is the One who stood and commanded the sea to calm. “Even the winds and the waves obey Him!” (Mark 4:23-27, cf. Psalm 107:25-30).
And I can trust that He has the power to do the same in my life, when He chooses to do so. But also, His provision for His people is comfort and peace right in the midst of the storms, while it is still going on.
His name is powerful. Jesus is powerful enough to take away our sin and give us eternal life with Him forever, and He is powerful enough to calm any storm in your life now. He is stronger than anything or anyone else.
Those of us who have believed on the name of Jesus to take away their sin and be their God can be assured that nothing can separate them from His love and care because our lives are held secure by Him.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ….Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39 NKJV
If hopelessness is something you or someone you know is struggling with, please point them to Jesus. He is alive and He is welcomes anyone who comes to Him in faith.
A Song
This song has been one of my favourites for the past couple of years.
Music video: “There is No Other Name” (Steve Green and Gaither Vocal Band)
“…by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole…. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10, 12 NKJV
“…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. …for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Romans 10:9-13 NKJV