LONELINESS

Thanks for stopping by to go through the lesson on loneliness. It is a true statement that many people today are in fact lonely. The feeling that no one understands can be depressing. Gary Smalley said, “One of the loudest cries we hear among men, women, and children is the desperate plea for tenderness and gentleness from people who love them. They feel unloved and often left out of the picture.” Is this how you feel? Many people feel this way and there is hope and help!

God Made Us To Interact

When God made man he was the crown of his creation. Everything about him was different than the animal kingdom. He had a mind and a will that no other of his creation had or has. After he created Adam God declared that he was not to be alone.

“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone…” Genesis 2:18 (KJV)

This includes women as well as men. God made us to be around others. Not just to be around one another but to have interaction and relationship with each other. In the case of Adam he made Eve.

“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Genesis 2:18 (KJV)

God in his wisdom knew that we should not be alone. He knows that we do better and function better when we have other people around us. In fact, when we don’t have people around us we can get depressed, sick and hopeless. The human person has an internal need to be loved and to love in return. What a thrill it is to know that someone is thinking of you and really cares. On the other hand we really discover our frailty when there is no one to care for us and we find ourselves lonely.

Question #1 Are you lonely? What events have led to this situation in your life?

Refuse To Be Isolated

The key to happiness is not to allow yourself to become isolated. When we isolate ourselves the feeling of hopelessness and aloneness have a great place to flourish. These two spirits can cause many other negative things to come into your life. The best policy is to never let it get started. If you are already there now I hope to give you some helpful ideas to get out. One of the deceptions of loneliness is that no one cares about me. Self-pity is self deceiving. The truth is that you can be free from loneliness or at least reduce it greatly by applying some practical and Biblical principles to your situation. Refuse to be lonely.

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)

A two-fold answer comes to us from the source of truth, the Bible. The first solution to our problem is to be friendly. You see, we can deceive ourselves into thinking that no one cares about us when in fact others may be thinking that we don’t care about them. Our generation has been afflicted with a spirit of selfishness. I and me are the most important words today. Sadly, it couldn’t be further from the truth. In the interest of developing good relationships the first thing that needs to be done is to start thinking about others.

Ask yourself this question, “What do you think of someone who always talks about himself and has no time for others?” I think I know the answer. You probably don’t want to be around them very much. Right? The reason is that each of us have an inward desire and need to be loved for who we are. When someone doesn’t really express that they care, we cannot find this need met in them. So we back away. The only way we can connect with someone in a relationship is to take an interest in them. This means becoming selfless and interested in the things that they deem important. Does that make sense? I hope it does. In other words, we must show ourselves friendly by being interested in them. When you show kindness and love to others they will naturally give it back to you. Exit loneliness.

Question #2 Have you been a good listener to those around you?

The Friend That Never Leaves

“…and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)

With people sometimes relationships can be complicated. There is someone who is very interested in your happiness, his name is Jesus Christ. He is the friend that will stick closer than a brother. He proved it by continuing to love even when he was rejected by his close disciples. The story of his trial and subsequent crucifixion tells us a lot about his commitment to you and I. The apostle Peter who was one of his closest disciples had denied that he even knew him.

“Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. [70] But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. [71] And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. [72] And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. [73] And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. [74] Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.” Matthew 26:69-74 (KJV)

Not once, but three times he denied that he even knew who Jesus was. What would you do if one of your closest friends denied that they even knew you? Jesus proved that his love for us all was so great that it didn’t affect his relationship at all.

“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. [17] And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.” Matthew 28:16-17 (KJV)

Nowhere is it recorded that Jesus rebuked Peter. In fact, he gave him the assurance that he would be with him to the end! Jesus has the same plan for you and me! Even though we have rejected him and done wrong in our lives he is a friend that will stick closer than a brother. To make it plain, there is no reason to be lonely.

“…and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:20 (KJV)

Question #3 Do you believe that someone like Jesus would stick with you even though you have let him down?

God’s Plan For Happiness With Others

“And they continued stedfastly in… fellowship…” Acts 2:42 (KJV)

After the church began in the New Testament a principle was put into action. It was called fellowship. This simply meant getting together and helping one another in their most basic need for relationship. Their common ground of Jesus Christ and his love gave them a tremendous opportunity to make friends. They became a community of people that helped and comforted one another. Loneliness did not have an opportunity to get into their circle. This is still true today. God has a community of people on this earth that will understand and help you in your loneliness. There is no need to live a lonely life when God has a better way.

Question #4 Would you be interested in finding new friends that can help you out of your loneliness?

Conclusion

There is no need to be lonely. First, there are many people around you that you can become friends with that understand your situation and want to help. Secondly, Jesus is very near to lift you up into his presence and love. The rest is up to you. Thank you so much for taking the time to go through this lesson, I trust that it has been a blessing to you. If it has helped you please let me know, it would be a great encouragement on my part. If you would like to be contact someone in your area that can help you just click here and we will give you a way to contact them.