The feeling of aloneness is real when we lack the social interaction we inwardly desire and need. We’ve all experienced it in one way, shape, or form. Even the prophet Elijah experienced aloneness.
1 Kings 19:9–10 (ESV) — 9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
Elijah experienced aloneness because he thought he was alone in his battle for truth, but God reassured him that there were seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal. Nevertheless, God rescued Elijah from his aloneness by directing him to Elisha.
The point is clear: we need other people in our lives because we were not meant to be alone – so when we face times of aloneness, we need a place of refuge or we may find ourselves in the pit of loneliness.
Loneliness is described as the distress or discomfort that results from the perception of a gap between the desire for social connection and the actual experience. Feelings of loneliness can overtake a person even when they are surrounded by people. Many times people in such situations describe a lack of companionship, feeling left out, feeling out of touch with people, and lack a caring person to which they can turn.
As we see God ministering to Elijah’s aloneness, we know we can count on God providing for our aloneness. Likewise, we can also count on His countering our loneliness which should be a great encouragement.
Hebrews 13:5–6 (ESV) — 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Friends, family, and those closest to us may forsake us but God will not leave us or forsake us.
Psalm 27:10 (ESV) — 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.
One of the greatest concepts upon which we can rely is that no matter how low we go into the depths of discouragement or the dismay of loneliness we have the assurance of God’s promise that underneath are His everlasting arms to hold us up.
Deuteronomy 33:27 (ESV) — 27 The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy.’
As the scriptures describe the life and suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who by the way, is our Great High Priest that is touched even with the feeling of our infirmities. Therefore, when we feel even in the depths of loneliness and that nobody knows the trouble we feel – Jesus does and He cares.
Isaiah 53:3 (ESV) — 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Psalm 73:26 (ESV) — 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (This is one of Jan’s favorite verses)
As we consider the words like that of the psalmist above, we can be encouraged to know that we are not alone as one who feels loneliness because we find the testimony of many who have felt the pain of dismay over the gap of what they need and long for in a relational situation. We may feel alone but with God on our side, with the work of the Lord Jesus Christ as our mediator and high priest we need not feel lonely. Oh, it may take a good refocus to get our mind in order but that is the work of the Holy Spirit, Who applies the word of God to our situation.
John 14:18 (ESV) — 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:26 (ESV) — 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
One more thought to consider when we feel we are heading into loneliness.
Proverbs 18:24 (KJV) — 24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
The friend that sticks closer than a brother is the Lord Jesus Christ, but look at the admonition that goes with that reminder: “a man that has friends must show himself friendly.” Too many times when we feel alone and are heading into loneliness, we may cut ourselves off from others who may be reaching out or even worse from others who need a friend to reach out to them. This is the value of being part of a church body, where we are to consider the needs of others and help to bear their burdens and doing so actually provides needed encouragement that comes back to us from God.
You may be alone but can overcome loneliness by relying upon the promises and instruction of God’s word, therefore with God’s help you may be alone without being lonely.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
