Loneliness

Loneliness

God Understands Loneliness

Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 27:46

In Mel Gibson’s graphic portrayal of Jesus’ crucifixion in the film, The Passion of the Christ, one’s emotions are gripped by the awfulness of the physical torture Christ endured, a suffering beyond comprehension. Yet there is an anguish of greater severity that might be overlooked. It was an emotional and spiritual anguish—His aloneness.

Hundreds of years before the Crucifixion, the prophet Isaiah foretold Jesus’ suffering and rejection, writing in 53:3,

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

As Jesus faced the culmination of His redemptive plan for all humanity, He experienced rejection by religious leaders who should have understood His mission. Even some of His closest followers turned their backs on Him. Then, on the cross, as He neared death, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). In that moment, even God the Father had to turn His back on the awfulness of sin that Jesus bore for our redemption.

Jesus understands rejection, pain, and loneliness more than any of us can imagine. He can relate to what you are going through at this moment. That’s why He can help you get through your time of trial, if you’re willing to trust Him.

In what ways have your experienced loneliness or rejection? How does knowing about Christ’s experiences affect the way you look at loneliness?

How can you help someone deal with loneliness or rejection in his or her life?

God Is Your Friend

John 15:14,15; Hebrews 13:5,6

“Friends? Who needs them? I’m fine on my own.” We’ve all probably heard these words at one time or another. We may have said them ourselves. But they couldn’t be more false. Having a meaningful relationship with another person is a fundamental human need. Yet there are a lot of people who don’t have a really true friend, someone they can talk to, lean on, and confide in. Maybe you’re in that situation, not because you’re indifferent about having friends, but because the right connection just hasn’t come along.

You can be certain of one thing: You do have a Friend. A well-known worship song says, “I am a friend of God; He calls me friend.” Abraham was called “God’s friend” (James 2:23) because of his faithfulness in following Him. A truly great blessing of being His friend is expressed in Hebrews 13:5,6.

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

God’s love and presence are constant. We never have to worry about Him not being there for us. That gives us a lot of confidence to face life’s challenges.

All true friendships carry some conditions, such as honesty, integrity, transparency, and confidentiality. Friendship with God carries the condition of obedience to His commands (John 15:14). If we are obedient, God says, “I no longer call you servants… Instead, I have called you friends” (verse 15).

What help and assurance does knowing God is your Friend provide?

How can you more effectively cultivate your friendship with God?

God Knows Where You Are

Psalm 139:1-24

Walk into any large shopping mall, bank, or government facility, and if you look toward the ceiling or in high corners, you will see cameras keeping constant vigil on the coming and going of people in the buildings. Being under constant surveillance can be a bit unsettling at times.
However, it has become necessary in our security-challenged world.

A surveillance of another kind, however, isn’t unsettling. It’s the kind David wrote about in Psalm 139:2,3—God’s careful watch over us.

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

In verse 5, David declared, “You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.” Here David referred to a familiar military strategy in his day. Soldiers would surround a city and keep constant watch over every entrance and exit. No one could come or go without notice. And while, unlike soldiers, God’s desire is only to watch over and protect us, He hems us in the same way.

As the psalm progresses, David declared that there is no place we can go—in the heavens, the depths of the earth, or across the oceans—where God cannot see us. Even the blackest darkness cannot hide us from Him. His pinpoint surveillance is everywhere.

God knows where you are right now. He knows the circumstances you are facing. He sees when you are lonely and afraid. And He is with you. Wherever you might be, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, God knows exactly where you are. And He is there for you to provide the help and assurance you need today.

How do you feel about God’s constant surveillance of your life?

How will knowing God is always aware of our thoughts, attitudes, and actions affect our relationships with Him and others?

God Will Come Alongside You

John 14:16-18,26; 15:26; 16:7

It’s amazing what we can face when we’re not alone. With the moral support and companionship of another person we can tackle tough decisions and meet other challenges with confidence and assurance. But without the support of someone else, life’s challenges can be pretty overwhelming at times.

Life doesn’t have to be overwhelming for those who believe in Christ, even when we have to face it without the comfort of friends or even family. Before Jesus left earth to return to heaven, He gave a powerful assurance to His followers in John 14:16-18.

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth… I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

The word counselor in this case means “comforter.” This is God coming alongside us, being present with us 24/7. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be with us forever (verse 16). The Holy Spirit guides us into spiritual truth, warns us when we sin, and serves as our greatest comforter.

Perhaps today you feel you are facing life all alone. If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, you have a companion. The Holy Spirit is with you. He is fully aware of the challenges you face and the fear that might be in your heart. And He is more than able to give assurance and guidance wherever needed. Trust in that assurance today.

Describe a critical moment in your life when you particularly sensed the Holy Spirit’s presence. How did that make you feel?

How can you be an extension of the Holy Spirit’s help to others?

Put Your Hope in God

Psalm 42:5-11

Loneliness and depression often go hand in hand. Being “downcast in soul,” as described in Psalm 42 is an apt description of these powerful feelings. Here the sons of Korah described their battle with this emotional state and zeroed in on the perfect antidote, in verses 5,6.

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Whether depression arises from loneliness or vice versa, a powerful antidepressant can be found when we focus on God, His goodness, and His faithfulness. The cloud lifts when we offer praise—especially when we least feel like doing so. The psalmist found that God’s love directed him by day and that at night His song was with him (verse 8). His hope was in God and not dependent on circumstances.

Though your present situation might seem bleak and lonely, take time to remember God’s faithfulness to you in the past. If you don’t know Him as Lord and Savior, realize that His forgiveness, love, and mercy are available to you. He can help you rise above what you are feeling right now. Just put your hope in God.

How would you describe the impact of depression on your life or the life of someone close to you?

How have you or has someone close to you found hope in the midst of loneliness and depression?

Find a Place in God's Family

Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Have you ever felt completely alone in a sea of people? It can be particularly noticeable in shopping malls or airport terminals. Hundreds, even thousands of people can swirl around us, yet we feel totally isolated. In situations like that nothing can be more refreshing than spotting a familiar face, someone we know and can talk with.

The issue here is relationship. It doesn’t exist in a crowd of strangers. That’s not true, however, in the body of Christ. Whether or not we have close friends when we first enter a group of believers, there is something about being part of the church family that helps us feel connected. And the more we are willing to get involved in the life of the church, the more connected we feel as relationships form and strengthen.

The apostle Paul went to great lengths to compare Christ’s body, the Church, with the human body. The Church, like our bodies, has many parts, none of which function completely independent of the others. Instead, in order for the body to be healthy, all the parts must support one another. In 1 Corinthians 12:27, Paul declared:

You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it.

If you are battling loneliness, link up with the body of Christ. Find a place to get involved and let being part of the Body bring relief from feelings of loneliness or isolation.

How has your life been changed or improved by being part of the church family?

In what ways could you become more connected in the body of Christ?

The Joy of Belonging

Acts 2:42; Ephesians 2:10

Think about an organization, club, or other regular gathering you attend. What keeps you coming back? It’s probably not hearing someone speak or doing a particular activity, though those are important reasons to attend. In most cases, your major reason to belong is the people and the relationships you have formed with them.

Acts 2:42 zeroes in on the power of that sense of belonging in the Early Church.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Later, verses 46 and 47 note that the people gathered daily in the temple courts, ate together in their homes, and spent time with one another praising God. It is no wonder that people came to Christ every day. They had found not only the joy of salvation but also the joy of belonging.

God’s family, the Church, provides a place for relationship building that is both helpful and meaningful in our walk with Christ. In that safe and loving environment, our hearts are more open to receive God’s truth and act on it every day.

Belonging is a powerful cure for loneliness. If you haven’t found a church home, make an effort to do so and be blessed by the loving, caring community that’s there. Then you can move forward in fulfilling God’s purpose for you, which is to do the good works that He already has in mind for you to do.

Why is it important for a Christian to be part of a church?

How will their involvement help their own lives? How will it help the lives of others in the church? How involved are you in a local church? What are some areas where you might become more involved and find opportunity to help or encourage others?