LONLY WITH GOD

LONLINESS WITH GOD

Pastor Calvin Cook

February 19, 2026

I know I have spoke recently about loneliness, but this morning as we begin lent – I am drawn because of Lent and the journey through this season to realize what loneliness looks like to me personally, to others, and what it must have felt like for Jesus.

I recently had a friend describe a recent time when they felt alone. Wondering around in the dark of night searching for some help. Only to come to the conclusion that when they had thought everything else had failed them – there was God.

I couldn’t help but think as I prayed this morning what it was like for Jesus? What did He do? What does He expect us to do because we have heard the call – to come and follow – when we find our selves in whatever wilderness we are in.

There are prayers we whisper carefully, and then there are prayers we blurt out when everything else has fallen away.

I thought about what Jesus would have been praying.

Did he pray one of the Psalms – He would have known them all. I turned to Psalm 142 and verse one is that call to prayer in those moments of distress, loneliness, and even frustration when we feel alone – “I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.”  In the second verse David doesn’t soften his words. “I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.” (142:2)

I feel the concern for David’s feelings and how often times we feel in whatever it is we are going through as the prayer continues “No one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.” (142:4)

I thought as I read and prayed that the next verse would surely be God saying – “No that is not the way it is” or “It will be OK” or “think more positively” or “have more faith” but nothing. Just a continued plea for the presence of God.

What kind of anguish must David have been in? What kind of anguish must Jesus have been in in the wilderness knowing the why, the when, and how he would be received and or proclaimed that He left heaven to endure to know our feelings, walk our path, feel our pain, bear our sins on calvary’s cross.

David is not making a theological statement about the goodness of people. He is naming his lived reality at that moment. He has reached the end of human safety. No friend with him. No ally. No advocate. No one feels trustworthy enough to lean on.

David turns directly toward God and says something even more daring: “I cry to you, Lord, and say, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.’” Is this the part of the prayer that Jesus prayed and wants us to pray. Is this part of the prayer Jesus prayed in the Garden when His disciples could not stay awake.

What was the backup plan? Was there one? Is there one for us?  Not a last resort after everything else failed. It is proclaiming “You are my refuge.” I’m really convicted in how God is used as the backup plan.

There is some things that I am growing into maturity and as I come into the knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus.

God is not threatened by your honesty.

God is not disappointed by your loneliness.

God is not offended when you say, “You’re all I’ve got right now.”

In fact, that prayer shows up all over the Bible.

It is the prayer of prophets, exiles, widows, prisoners, prostitutes, sinners, the sick, the lonely, the hurting. It is prayed over and over again and it is in that recognition of God that God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit becomes most real  because every other refuge good or bad disappears.

If today feels like that kind of day that you are alone – pray like David, look to Jesus and know that whatever wilderness we find ourselves in that right there with you is Jesus.

That is what I do, I did and will continue to seek the presence of God, no matter the cost.

You are not alone ! And God is listening !