As I sat at the top of the attic, plopping down boxes filled with Easter décor, I was met with loneliness. It didn’t sneak in like it usually does. This time, it came with a glaringly obvious realization that I was now the head matriarch of our family! Not my passionate and wise grandmother or my caring and helpful mother - me.
This past Easter marked the second year without my precious mom, a woman I looked up to for support, guidance, and counsel. Now, I am the girl to carry that torch, to build a legacy for the next generation, to pass on wise words, and to lead with love. It’s such a tall order that comes with rather big shoes to fill, and simply put - I’m not ready.
This isn’t the season to embrace a new role and carry an honorable title, as I surely didn’t earn it. Most days I am barking orders and trying to keep my head straight, just hanging by a thread. In fact, I could really use some support and wise counsel right about now, especially with my troubled and wayward teen that has me questioning my mothering skills. Oh, this season is so hard and really, really lonely.
You may be in a season that feels lonely, too. Maybe it was brought on by grief, pain, a life-altering change, or trauma. Maybe you just need a dear friend to do life with. Maybe you are physically alone, and it has led to social isolation. Or perhaps loneliness just came creeping in unbeknownst to you, and now here you are, feeling empty, isolated, and deflated.
Oh, dear friend, you are not alone.
I repeat, you are not alone. Four seemingly harmless words that can trigger so many emotions, right? How can such a simple statement bring a bit of comfort yet feel condescending and hurtful at the same time? Well, I believe it’s because we are not listening to the right voice.
Today, I invite you to hear those words differently. Not from me, not from a friend or another flawed human being, but from God! God is calling out to you. He is asking you to take hold of His hand. He is whispering to meet with Him as His beloved child, declaring, “You are not alone.”
The Great I Am is saying, “I am here. I am with you!”
Just as God brought Moses, David, Paul, and countless others, including Jesus, into seasons of isolation for the sole purpose of canceling out all the other “noise” just so they could hear His voice and feel His presence, I believe He does the same for us!
In our season of loneliness, God is calling. He is waiting to meet with you. How will you respond?
1. Meet God in Nature
God has such a beautiful way of meeting us through His creation as He tickles our senses and allows us to experience the wonders of His love. Just stepping outside and soaking in the sights, sounds, and smells allows us to feel His warmth through the sun or embrace His presence through a gentle breeze. Not to mention the vitamin D that fuels our bodies by restoring mental clarity, giving us strength, and boosting our mood, all of which are helpful to a lonely heart. Wow! God really is a masterful and purposeful designer, isn’t He?
If loneliness is hitting you hard today, go for a walk, work outside, or explore a new park, then allow God to meet you and remind you that He is near.
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Psalm 96:11-12.
2. Meet God in His Word
Sometimes, we just need to be reminded that we are not the only ones facing the battles that come with loneliness because, after all, it can feel extremely lonely. This is when reading His Word brings about so many blessings, as we encounter the beloved characters who also faced isolation. From the prophet Jeremiah, who faced struggles with being single and alone, to David, who emotionally expresses his loneliness throughout the book of Psalms, we see how they cried out earnestly to God, and God met them.
If loneliness is consuming you today, open your Bible and ask God to meet you on those pages. Some other stories that capture characters that faced loneliness are Elijah (1 Kings 19), Leah (Genesis 29), and Naomi (Ruth 1:3-21). These stories, and so many more, help us understand that loneliness is not only experienced by us all but can be a tender time to experience God’s promise to never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8), especially in our darkest times.
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16
3. Meet God in the Quiet
It’s often said that Satan’s voice is loud, and God’s voice is a mere whisper. But, make no mistake: God can be rather bold, and His voice will be heard when He declares it (Hebrews 3:15). The real barrier is us. We tend to bend and sway to distractions and entertain the worldly noise that is obnoxious, ever so loud, and basically like a train wreck we can’t look away from. As flawed human beings, we really have a hard time being still, quiet, and attentive listeners.
However, what we must come to grips with is that Satan uses this as a ploy to not only lie to us but to cause restlessness and loneliness in our lives. He knows when we get still and quiet, it drowns him out, and we begin to hear the bold truth God resounds in our hearts, which reclaims peace. This is why we are more apt to hear from God when we humble ourselves, get quiet, and settle our hearts before Him.
If you are feeling acutely lonely today, push aside the lie that says you are already alone and can’t sit in silence. It’s a flat-out lie! Do it anyway. Set a time when you can remove yourself from the duties and demands of your day and sit in stillness. Then let God wash over you with His peace and remind you He is near.
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14
4. Meet God through the Body of Believers
God often meets with us through other faithful believers. He may deliver a message we need to hear or pour out a word of encouragement. But, when we aim to gather with fellow believers, especially in our loneliness, we are reminded that God made us for community. That means that we were never meant to fight our battles alone (1 Thessalonians 5:11). When we place our hearts in God’s hands and ask for help, it often gives way for brothers and sisters to enter our lives and walk alongside us, loving and supporting us through prayer (Galatians 6:2).
However, if you are wandering through the desert of loneliness and faithful friends seem hard to come by, or family is distant, this place to meet God in your loneliness may sting a little. Maybe finding healthy relationships has been downright difficult. If that is the case, invite God into that hurt and ask Him to reveal a friend, just one friend, to grow in this season. Then trust that He will provide.
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10
5. Meet God in Prayer
When all else fails, pray. Wait. No! Oh, friend, prayer mustn’t be our last resort; it must be our first response! Unfortunately, I will admit, as much as loneliness can drive me to do a number of things, sometimes prayer is not always the first thing on my list. Sigh. I will cast blame on others, retreat, maybe even hide from family and friends, then finally cry out to God. Yet, the truth is that loneliness can either lead us away from God or draw us closer to Him. Where God wants us to place our trust in Him and seek Him so that He can grow our faith, persevere, and learn from this season, another force seeks to drive us further into our loneliness, causing us to question our worth and purpose.
Is loneliness bringing on a weight you can no longer bear? Have you prayed about it? God will not only meet you in your loneliness through prayer, but He will remind you that He specializes in healing and restoring hope. Let Him heal the hurt and pain and reclaim hope over you today!
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18
God, we are so grateful that You know us fully and see and hold us in every season of our lives. As we navigate a season of loneliness, please meet us and draw near. We need You to speak to our hearts and cast out all the lies so we can embrace the truth that You brought us here for a reason. You are calling out to us. Help us respond to Your tender voice and meet with You with soft hearts and open minds. Amen.
Originally published Tuesday, 09 April 2024.
