Loneliness 01 – Loneliness Comes to Us All

This is a short devotional series on loneliness.

We all feel lonely at times.

• Being without company – experiencing too many lonely nights at home.

• Being cut off from others – feeling that everybody has friends except us.

• Feeling sad from being alone – lonely without family around us.

Sometimes loneliness is our own fault. We’ve hung a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the walls of our personality. We push people away. We build walls instead of bridges.

Sometimes loneliness comes because of circumstances beyond our control – like this pandemic that has created an unnatural isolation from others.

According to one study on loneliness, nearly half of Americans report sometimes or always feeling alone or left out.

Loneliness came to people in the Bible.

• Job felt lonesome. “He has alienated my family from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me. My relatives have gone away; my closest friends have forgotten me” (Job 19:13-14).

• David complained that no one cared about him. “Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life” (Psalm 142:4).

• Paul sought to be reunited with his friends. “But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you” (1 Thessalonians 2:17).

We have all felt the empty feelings of loneliness. We think that no one cares anything about us. Even in a crowd, we can feel left out. A Jewish proverb says, “Loneliness eats into the soul.” What can we do?

Unburden yourself before God and receive his comforting grace. David prayed like this. “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted” (Psalm 25:16).

Trust that God will connect you with others. This is God’s way: “God sets the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6).

Know that as a Christ follower, you are never alone.

Action Step: Let Jesus’ words sink into your soul – “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).

~ Pastor Dave