2026-05-12
Genesis 2:22 NIV
God recognized our need for companionship when He said, “‘It is not good for the man to be alone’… Then… God made a woman… and he brought her to the man” (vv. 18, 22 NIV). Most of us are social beings who are at our best around others. We garner energy and support from them.
But there are those who feel a sense of shame over admitting their loneliness. They long for people to share their lives with but feel they must pretend they don’t need anyone. You should not feel shame for wanting love and social connection. Admitting your desire to be loved and taking a step toward involvement actually requires courage. Accepting that you are a person who needs to connect is healthy.
But problems arise when your need for companionship controls you. When you compromise your values in order to be accepted, the results are always negative. Clinging to other people without understanding who they are or what they represent is unhealthy. And the ramifications can have not only lifelong effects but sometimes also life-threatening consequences. Wise decisions about relationships are never to be made with a mind ruled by fear of loneliness or desperation. If that’s where you are, being single is a better alternative right now. It need only be temporary.
So do these three things: (1) Ask God to guide you: “God sets the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6 NIV). (2) Live by the values you’d want your loved one to hold as well. (3) Start with what you have to give and share with others, rather than with your unmet needs.
Soul food: Deut 30:1-32:28; Matt 10:1-10; Ps 62; Prov 12:18-19
Genesis 2:22 NLV
God het ons behoefte na geselskap erken toe Hy gesê het: ‘…Dis nie goed dat die mens alleen is nie… die Here God [maak] ‘n vrou en bring haar na die mens toe’ (verse 18, 22 NLV). Die meeste van ons is sosiale wesens wat op ons beste funksioneer wanneer ons in ander mense se geselskap is. Ons kry energie en ondersteuning van hulle.
Daar is egter mense wat skaam voel om te erken dat hulle eensaam is. Hulle smag na mense om hul lewens mee te deel, maar voel dat hulle moet voorgee dat hulle niemand nodig het nie. Jy moet nie skaam voel omdat jy liefde en sosiale konneksie wil hê nie. Dit verg moed om jou begeerte na geselskap te erken en ‘n stap te neem om betrokke by mense te raak.
Probleme begin egter ontstaan wanneer jou behoefte aan geselskap jou begin beheer. Wanneer jy jou waardes in gevaar stel om aanvaar te word, is die gevolg altyd negatief. Om aan ander mense vas te klou sonder om te verstaan wie hulle is of wat hulle verteenwoordig, is ongesond. Wyse besluite oor verhoudings moet nooit met ‘n gemoed wat deur vrees vir eensaamheid of desperaatheid beheer word, geneem word nie. As dit is waar jy jouself vandag bevind, is dit beter om eerder vir nou enkellopend te wees. Dit hoef net tydelik te wees.
Doen dus hierdie drie dinge: 1) Vra God om jou te lei: ‘God gee aan die eensame ‘n tuiste…’ (Psalm 68:7 NLV). 2) Leef volgens die waardes wat jy wil hê jou geliefde ook moet hê. 3) Moenie toelaat dat jou onvervulde behoeftes jou soeke na geselskap lei nie, maar eerder deur dit wat jy het om te gee en met ander te deel.
Sielskos: Deut 30:1-32:28; Matt 10:1-10; Ps 62; Spr 12:18-19
2026-05-11
Jakobus 1:4 NLV
Jakobus skryf: ‘…wanneer julle in allerhande beproewings beland, moet julle eintlik baie bly wees. Julle weet mos: Wanneer ‘n mens se geloof ‘n toets deurstaan, veroorsaak dit dat jy kan volhard… Dan sal julle julle lewensdoel bereik en geestelik gesond wees… Vra vir God as jy nie kan agterkom wat Hy wil hê jy moet doen nie… Maar, as ‘n mens bid, moet jy die vertroue hê dat God sal antwoord, want iemand wat twyfel, is soos ‘n brander in die see wat deur die wind aangejaag en heen en weer gedryf word. So iemand kan mos nie dink dat hy iets van die Here sal ontvang nie. Hy is iemand wat nie tot ‘n besluit kan kom nie; op so iemand kan jy nie peil trek nie’ (verse 2-8 NLV).
Let drie dinge in hierdie Skrifgedeelte op:
1) Jou geloof groei wanneer dit getoets word. Jy sal nooit die krag van jou anker ken totdat jy die krag van die storm voel nie.
2) God sal jou die wysheid gee om die toets te hanteer. Hy sal nie noodwendig al jou ‘hoekoms’ beantwoord nie. Jy moet dus eerder bid: ‘Here, hoe wil U hierdie toets gebruik om my geestelik te ontwikkel? Hoe kan ek met U saamwerk om die grootste voordeel hieruit te trek? Watter veranderinge wil U in my lewe teweegbring?’
3) Jy moet gehoorsaam wees. Dit is moontlik om God vir wysheid te vra en dan daaroor te debatteer, te talm en tyd te mors terwyl jy probeer besluit of jy Hom moet gehoorsaam. ‘So iemand kan mos nie dink dat hy iets van die Here sal ontvang nie.’ Wanneer God jou sy wysheid gee, moet jou eerste reaksie wees: ‘…Ja, Here, u dienaar luister’ (1 Samuel 3:10 NLV).
Sielskos: Deut 28-29; Matt 9:27-38; Ps 57; Spr 12:15-17
James 1:4 CEV
James writes: ‘Be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything. If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given you… But when you ask… you must have faith… Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all’ (vv. 2-8).
Note three things in this Scripture:
1) Your faith grows when it’s tested. You’ll never know the strength of your anchor until you feel the blast of the storm.
2) God will give you wisdom to handle the test. Now, He won’t answer all your ‘whys’. So instead of questioning Him, you need to pray, ‘Lord, how do You want to use this trial to develop me spiritually? How can I co-operate with You to reap the maximum benefit? What changes do You desire to bring about in my life?’ Those are questions God will answer.
3) You must be willing to obey. It’s possible to ask God for wisdom, then debate, stall, or mess around trying to decide whether or not to obey Him. ‘If you’re that kind of person… don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.’ When God gives you His wisdom, your first response should be: ‘Speak, for your servant is listening’ (1 Samuel 3:10 NIV).
Soul food: Deut 28-29; Matt 9:27-38; Ps 57; Prov 12:15-17
2026-05-10
2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV
Paul wrote: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (vv. 17-20 NIV).
Sometimes our first reaction to learning that a fellow believer has fallen is to rush to the phone and say, “Did you hear about?” Or point an accusing finger. Or distance ourselves from that person at the very time he or she needs our prayers, love, and support. The Bible says: “Above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins'” (1 Peter 4:8 NKJV). If the hurting cannot find mercy in the family of God, where are they going to find it?
Rather than join those who point accusing fingers, we should be known as those who extend a helping hand. Jesus did that with Simon Peter: “Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-32 NKJV). Just as God has repeatedly extended His grace to you when you have fallen short of the mark, He is calling you to extend that same grace to others.
Soul food: Ps 91:1-2; Prov 3:5-6; Jeremiah 17:7-8
