Loneliness expresses the pain of being alone and solitude expresses the glory of being alone. Paul Tillich
Meditation: Babies need to learn to fall asleep on their own. Initially that can feel distressing and terrifying to them. However, as parents are a “good enough” and loving presence during the day time, the baby internalizes their presence and learns to self-sooth and fall asleep by herself at night. Being spiritually content and at peace when being alone means “learning solitude”. Practicing solitude and not experiencing utter aloneness is a learning process even for us adults that we need to practice over and over again. While we offer God our feelings of stress, pain and fear in prayer, we remember God’s loving words and reassurances. It is with the help of this spiritual practice that we experience being alone without being lonely. Even though we can’t see or feel God, God’s Spirit wants to reassure us that we are not alone. And our experience of pain and loneliness gives way to the experience of solitude and peace.
Prayer: God of peace and comfort, help us to cherish these moments of solitude. Help us lose the fear of being alone. Help us remember Your words even when You seem absent. Thank you for being a God who cares deeply about us. And we are grateful. Amen
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1. Peter 5:7
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