The *AARP's Loneliness Study found that approximately 42.6
million adults over age 45 in the United States are suffering from chronic
loneliness; the most recent U.S. census data show more than a quarter of the
population living alone and more than half are unmarried. Additionally, **APA researchers
released a report recently that warns policy-makers that social isolation may be a
greater threat to public health than obesity.
Unless you are among these statistics it is hard to imagine living
daily with the idea that you are alone in the world – that no one cares for you,
no one is concerned about what might happen to you, that no friend, spouse, or
even casual acquaintance would care if you were to die tomorrow….but the
researchers say millions are thinking exactly these thoughts.
While not everyone has chronic loneliness, everyone
experiences loneliness at some time and to some degree – it is one consequence
of the fall of man.
We could feel lonely in a crowded arena with 100s of cheering
football fans, at dinner with a best friend, or in the most intimate of
circumstances with a spouse. The recent phenomenon of social media has added
another dimension – one may have thousands of "friends" but no real
friendships.
Loneliness is “a
common denominator in the equation of life;” it is also an emotion that
most Christians will not admit to. Rather than face the fact, we try to bury
our feelings and distract ourselves with busyness.
Our loving Father has a better plan for His children who are lonely.
“Loneliness is a
wilderness, but through receiving it as a gift, accepting it from the hand of
God, and offering it back to him with thanksgiving, it may become a pathway to
holiness, to glory and to God himself” Elisabeth
Elliot (1926-2015).
GOD created each of us with a unique purpose and plan for each of our lives and this very uniqueness can be the cause of some loneliness.
So,
yes, in our wilderness of loneliness our comfort lies with our Creator. We ought to face
our loneliness, offer it up to GOD and begin to commune with Him honestly about
where we are so we can both know Him more deeply and His will for our lives.
As we give out time and thoughts and emotions to GOD, our
focus will shift from who or what is against us to the One who loves us. We begin to
embrace anew, or relearn, the fact that GOD knows our sorrow (Psalm 56:8), He understands
our suffering (Hebrews 2:18), and He is for us (Psalm 56:9.)
Whatever the cause of our loneliness the cure is always the
same – the comforting fellowship of GOD the Father, JESUS CHRIST, and the Holy
Spirit (Matthew 11:28). As we
consistently and with determination engage the Godhead in our struggle it will diminish. Soon we would have exchanged our wilderness of sadness and despair
for an oasis of life-giving discoveries that nourish and heal our souls. We discover how much GOD values us and understand His will for our lives.
We will come to a place where we are no longer lonely but we seek
to be alone. Like JESUS we withdraw often to lonely places and pray. Luke 5:16. We are now aware that to be
away from others gives us opportunities for intimate time with GOD where we can
worship, give thanks and appreciate our true value in and to Him and our place within His
family.
When we trust Him with our hurts, GOD mercifully brings us to a place of robust spiritual health where we no longer feel like friendless outcasts:
I will give you back your health and heal
your wounds," says the LORD. "For you are called an
outcast--'Jerusalem for whom no one cares.'" Jeremiah 33:17
We are now reaping the reward of obedience. By giving the gift of
our solitude to GOD our despair has become for us a holy delight!
We must stop thinking that other people can provide us what
only God can provide and trust GOD’s plan for His broken children. He wants us always
to turn to Him first for comfort so He can fortify us to be a comfort to others
in whatever unique way He has designed for us. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
GOD’s children ought never to suffer chronic loneliness when we
have the entire Godhead always at our disposal to aid us.
The Father, the SON, and the Holy Spirit are more than
enough to fill our emptiness and make us whole.
My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my
enemies. Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. Psalm
25:15-16
Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our Holy and loving Father, the only ONE who can
comfort us and bind up our wounds of loneliness and despair and heal us perfectly.
Thank YOU for being a Father to the fatherless, a Defender of widows and
orphans. Thank YOU that we can trust YOUR WORD and YOUR promise never to leave
or forsake us. Thank YOU for knowing our
silent and desperate grief and weeping with us. Thank YOU for CHRIST JESUS our
LORD and High Priest who understands our weaknesses and intercedes for us daily;
JESUS who was despised and rejected but showed us what it means to never give
up, to persevere through our pain for the sake of our own unique place in YOUR
Family – for YOUR NAME and YOUR glory! We are saved to the uttermost by the ONE
who is the initiator and the finisher of our faith. We thank you for being all
that we need for life and for godliness. We give all glory, all honor, and all
praise to YOU and we ask all things in JESUS’ NAME. Amen!
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
*American Association of Retired Persons
**American Psychological Association
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