Never Alone

"Yet I am always with you; you hold Me by My right hand"- Psalm 73:23 (NIV).

Loneliness can kill, literally. Research says loneliness is as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, by weakening the immune system and increasing blood pressure, thus increasing the risk of premature death by 14%. With an aging population, social isolation is the Grim Reaper waiting on the sidelines for the next client. However, believers know they are never alone. It would be interesting to see research on the number of believers, who are socially isolated, who suffer from physical issues from loneliness and premature death. The numbers would be low. I'm not saying believers are never lonely, but they don't suffer the biological changes that emotional stress causes. Aging is inevitable and social isolation a possibility, but feeling alone is a choice. My mother spent the last five years of her life in social isolation. She always wanted company and hated when we left, but after she passed, her Bible reflected Who she kept company with most. She had dated Scripture throughout her Bible. Little notes were scribbled in the margins. Her passing wasn't caused by loneliness. She held onto the Father's right hand; she knew she was never alone.