Overcoming Loneliness and Isolation
Loneliness is a universal human experience. All of us have been there. Maybe you are experiencing loneliness in this season of your life. Maybe this season has been a long one and feels like it will never end.
You may not realize this, but the Bible speaks to the topic of feeling lonely. Perhaps there is some wisdom or encouragement here that will help you take steps forward.
“Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart
and free me from my anguish.”
Those words, written by the ancient Israel king, David, are a cry from his heart. David expresses his feelings of loneliness and begs for God's presence and guidance.
The Bible teaches that God can use loneliness for our good and for His glory. In Isaiah 43:2, God reminds His people that when they pass through the waters, He will be with them; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow them. The prophet Elijah experienced a deep sense of loneliness during a difficult time in his life, but God used that loneliness to draw him closer to Him and to renew Elijah's strength and purpose.
You were not meant to experience life alone.
In Matthew 28:20, as He is preparing to leave the earth and ascend to Heaven, Jesus promises that He will be with His followers always, even to the end of the age.
A couple of years ago when I was going through a really difficult time, a result of which was a feeling of loneliness and isolation, I memorized and prayed - over and over again - these words from the Bible:
Ephesians 4:5-7
The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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If you're a church person, those words might be familiar to you. I had known them for a very long time. Well, I had known some of them. Most people who like to memorize scripture have memorized Ephesians 4:6-7, but don’t include verse 5 that comes right before it. For me, it was during one of those dark, lonely nights that I realized that right before the “do not be anxious” part were the words, “The Lord is near.”
I think that if we remember that - the Lord is near - it can really change a lot of our perspective and our outlook in life.
Now, I realize that it doesn’t necessarily, immediately solve the problem of feeling lonely or isolated, but it may remind you that you are not alone and that you have a heavenly Father who has not left you or forsaken you.
None of us were made by God to live life outside of relationships. First, God wants us to have a relationship with Him and then He wants us to live out our life in community with others who also follow Him. That is the intended purpose of the local church. If you don’t have a church that you call home, please reach out to us. If you're not in our area, we’d love to be a help to you in finding a community where you live.