When it comes right down to it, everyone is born lonely. We may not feel lonely right now, but in an objective sense, we are. You and I were born as individuals, and to some extent that means we are like islands. No matter how well someone knows us, no one can see down deep inside us- how we feel, what we think, and what is troubling us. But God can. God is everywhere, and knows all things about you. And though it may not seem like it, He truly cares.

You may or may not be a Christian, but either way, I want to encourage you (and myself!) to get in touch, or back in touch, with God.

The Bible says, "He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist." (Acts 17:27-28) We have our very existence inside of Him, like fish in the ocean. So, He is always where you are. Even if you can't feel Him, yet. We need to connect with Him. The way He wants you to do this is by talking to Him very specifically about your life. He already knows the details! But He wants you to share them with Him. He is a relational God, not some blind, impersonal, force.

God can literally live inside of you, and already does if you love Him. He is love, and wants to love you beyond your greatest hopes and dreams. But you need to tell Him you want that love relationship.

God sent His Son Jesus to be born.... so that He could die on a cross. God sent Him to be unbearably lonely- for lonely people like us. He was coldly rejected on the cross. But Jesus wanted to suffer this rejection, not because He wanted to be rejected, but because He wanted to love the lonely, and the guilty- and that's all of us. Jesus wanted to suffer the consequences for the relational harm we do to each other, to ourselves, and most importantly, to Him.

You see, there is a Great Exchange, a great trading of places. Jesus took the guilt and punishment of Hell on the cross, so that in exchange people like us could be set free from it all, and have a love relationship with God.

What happened after the cross? Well, Jesus died, He was buried, and He was raised up to new life. He spoke to His followers for forty days until He was taken up into Heaven. And although His body (He is fully human!) is in Heaven, He is also where you are right now- because He is also fully God. This mysterious, gentle, Person... "is not far from each one of us."

Find a place to be alone with Him. Give Him all your pain and loneliness and hopes and disappointments. Tell Him you are to blame for more sins than you can begin to count. And tell Him you want Him to be Your Friend and King. Jesus promised, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

What if it doesn't "work"? What if it doesn't really help you? Don't be discouraged. Keep talking to Him. Read in the Bible the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Relationships don't always come easy! But God knows how you feel. Remember that God always sees you, that He is not far off, and that He is full kindness and mercy.