Victory Over Loneliness
I can’t think of a greater fear than the fear of being along. I can’t think of a more desperate feeling than that of loneliness. Certainly we have all felt it, some more than others. It is usually accompanied by thoughts of no one caring about you. It many times leads to depression. It is something to be dreaded.
A recent visit to a local nursing home put me face to face with the loneliness people sometimes have to face. Even in the midst of a crowd, it can dominate our lives. I was touched by the expressions of thankfulness as we presented these special people with a simple flower, symbolic of God’s love for them. I was reminded how little it takes to let people know we care. Jesus commands us to bring His love to the world. He challenges us to end the loneliness that separates us from God by reaching out to others.
One problem we have is we place such high priorities on human relationships, sometimes too high. I have recently realized how often I have failed to be the source of strength to friends when they really needed me. Caught up my own world of self, I have let down the very people that mean the most to me. When they really needed a friend, I was nowhere to be found.
I’m afraid that may be true with most of us. Sooner or later, we come to the realization that if we build our lives around people, we are bound to face the loneliness of life.
There are many wonderful promises in the Bible—promises that make all the difference in our lives. But I think the greatest promise of all is when Jesus looks at those confused disciples and says to them and to us, “Know this…I am with you always, even to the end of the earth!” What an awesome blessing—to know that we are never, ever alone—that Christ is always there, always with us!
Many of the people we met at that nursing home that day had a joy in their life that had to come from the very promise Jesus made to those disciples. In fact, several shared with me joy of knowing Christ was with them. It is that promise that enables disciples to face the jaws of hungry lions, that enabled Paul to face imprisonment, and that gives us the strength to face each day.
Praise God for friends and family that support us and give us comfort in times of trouble. Praise God for the Body of Christ who lifts us up when we are down. But most of all, praise God for Jesus Christ, who is always with us and makes it possible for us to overcome the loneliness in our lives!
God is with us. We are not alone. Praise be to God!