Recently I had the privilege to talk to our college age group about loneliness. It was a great discussion! My friend Brannon Pruet who is helping me with this group and who is a trained counselor, was a great resource. Our talk was more like an interview – I asked Brannon questions and he gave fabulous answers both from the Bible and from his practice.
In my research I found a great article about loneliness by Diane S. Dew (www.dianedew.com/lonelins.htm)
Following is an extrass from her article.
We can choose to take advantage of our time alone and embrace it with a godly purpose, as His provision for us. If we use it to spend time with Him, it can become a productive experience with positive results.
A. Time alone should be embraced as an opportunity for uninterrupted prayer.
1. Old age: widowhood.1 Tim 5:5 “The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.”
2. The life of Jesus.Mk 1:35 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed”
B. This should be often – as a habit, not a last result; as the rule, not the exception.
Luk 5:16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
C. It is alone, in our place of deepest need, when we can turn to none other, that God meets us.
l. Spiritual blessing was imparted as the result of a spiritual battle fought alone.Gen 32:24 “So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.”
2. Ministry may require much time alone with God.Exo 24:2 “… but Moses alone is to approach the Lord; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.”
Mk 1:45 “Jesus … stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.” [For more on the solitude of Jesus, see also Section III-A.]
3. The Word of the Lord often is received alone, in the Presence of God.1 Ki 19:9, 11 [Elijah] “went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him…. The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
4. Visions are usually imparted when the individual is alone, as his spirit is fully directed and focused upon God.Dan 10:8 “So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale…”
5. Revelation is usually imparted while alone.Mk 4:10, 34 “When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables …”
Luk 9:36 “When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone … when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met them.
The causes of loneliness and rejection may vary.
A. Physical disease. Lev 13:46
B. Circumstantial difficulties – widowhood, childlessness, death of a loved one, family breakdown, etc. 1 Sam 1:2, Job 29:12 Psa 27:10, Eccl 4:8 1 Tim 5:5
C. The hand of God. (Sometimes it is God who has set us aside: “for himself.”) Psa 4:3
D. Rejection and misunderstanding in ministry.1. The prophet Jeremiah “sat alone” as a result of the critical message God gave him to deliver. Jer 15:17 2. The prophet Elijah felt so alone, he wanted to die. 1 Ki 19:3-5, 10, 14
3. Paul was deserted by his coworkers in the gospel. Acts 15:38 2 Tim 1:15, 2 Tim 4:10
4. Jesus was “despised and rejected of men.” Isa 53:3
5. Believers can expect rejection by family and friends for their convictions regarding the gospel message. Mat 19:19
God has a solution for loneliness.
A. Draw near to God. (Scripture provides us with several spiritual consolations.)
1. We are never truly alone. Deut 31:6, 8 Psa 22:1, 11, 16 , Jn 8:16, 29
2. God sees; He knows. 2 Ki 14:26
3. God cares. Psa 34:18; 55:22; 103:13, Psa 72:124. God alone can meet our deepest needs. Psa 62:1
5. Jesus understands. (See Section IV-D4.) Heb 2:18; Mk 15:34B. God’s answer may be practical.
1. Family. Psa 68:6
2. Marriage. Gen 2:18
3. Friendship. Eccl 4:10
4. Ministry. 2 Corin 7:6 , 2 Corin 1:3-7
TO SEE THE ENTIRE ARTICLE/STUDY GO TO http://www.dianedew.com/lonelins.htm
