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PROGRAM D-8241
Did you realize that loneliness is at epidemic levels? If you google “loneliness epidemic,” you will find pages of articles on the effects of loneliness. We have more and easier ways of communicating than ever before. Yet, indeed, our technological advances are part of the cause for this loneliness epidemic because we are more isolated than ever.
Loneliness is that empty spot in the pit of your stomach which makes life seem meaningless and makes you feel worthless. All of us experience loneliness at times. When it is a fleeting emotion, it doesn’t usually impact your life significantly. However, persistent and pervasive feelings of loneliness are indeed harmful to your health. So, I’d like to explore the topic of loneliness with you and how to cope with it.
Someone has said that “All man’s history is an endeavor to shatter his loneliness.” We are designed by God for fellowship and companionship. When it is missing, it affects our motivation, our self-respect, our happiness—almost every part of our lives.
However, we must recognize that loneliness and aloneness are two different things. You can be lonely in a crowd or a group of friends, or with a mate or friend right there with you. Or you can be all by yourself for extended periods and yet not be lonely. Loneliness is a feeling, not a set of circumstances.
A single woman in her late twenties shared an experience with me which I think points out our society’s attitude about aloneness. Since her church had no class for singles, she joined in with the young couples’ group which was taught by the pastor’s wife. One Sunday, she didn’t make it to Sunday School and her teacher said to her, “I’m so sorry you weren’t at Sunday School today. I was really counting on you being there because I knew you’d have lots of good input for our discussion—we were talking about loneliness today.”
People automatically assume that being single means you’re lonely because being alone is seen
as the worst thing in the world. This mistaken notion about aloneness causes people to do the most incredible things to avoid being by themselves. I know, because I’ve done them—I’ve gone to places I should never have gone to, I’ve been with people I should never have been with, I’ve spent money I never should have spent—just to avoid being alone.
I want to examine loneliness this week and look at it from a biblical point of view.