Many of us have mental, emotional
and spiritual issues from our past that keep us feeling fearful and insecure.
We tend to drag these issues around with us until we resolve them. Unresolved
conflicts within our soul may ruin our current and future relationships.
For instance, loneliness is a major
plight in today's busy world. Even if we have children, or are married, we can
experience loneliness. Close friends may move away, or we may move away from
them.
We often use addictions to mask our
loneliness, which causes more isolation as well as physical, mental and
emotional issues. Health issues may cause our loneliness, because they isolate
us from the world around us.
We may have a personality that
promotes our feelings of loneliness. Or an experience, such as a divorce, a
fire, or a natural disaster may rob us of treasures that we hold dear, and
cause us to feel depression and loneliness.
Thankfully, loneliness is a choice,
and we can change that choice. God's grace sufficiently supplies all of our
needs, even opportunities to face our negative emotions and to seek His wisdom
and guidance in resolving them.
Getting alone with God to give our
self a chance to hear His voice and to listen to His wisdom and guidance is a
wise habit. Without the distractions of other people making demands on us, we
can focus - totally listening to God. His faithful presence abides within us.
We can view loneliness as a chance
to increase our intimacy with God. Reading His Word, and spending dedicated
time praising Him for who He is, and for His specific provision and blessings
in our life, and walking in His Spirit will improve our unity with God.
We can also take part in group
activities such as clubs that promote Bible studies, charitable activities,
woodworking, biking or hiking, book reading together, craft classes, sporting
events such as bowling or tennis, board games like checkers or chess, etc.
If we vegetate in front of the TV,
play endless computerized games, or surf social media sites all day, this makes
us feel even lonelier or more depressed and isolated. Listening to uplifting
music, reading inspirational books and articles, teaching a class, asking God
for wisdom on how to change negative thoughts and attitudes, etc. diminishes
loneliness.
Prayer:
Father God, remind us that Your
Word is full of comfort for us, especially the Psalms, because King David lost
his mentor - King Saul. He also lost his best friend - Saul's son Jonathan, as
well as his home, and at times his country and his family; therefore His words
bring comfort to our soul in lonely times. Help us not to dwell on our negative
circumstances or on the fact that family and friends are too busy to include us
in their life.
Remind us to follow Your Spirit's
leading in how to spend our time and attention. You may have ministry for us to
do in our church and community; so give us the courage to step out in faith and
volunteer, or to take a job that helps other people. We can even start a
support group for people who feel lonely, or even just befriend one other
person that we see struggling with loneliness too.
Thought for the Day:
If we have preconceived
expectations of how and when God should answer our prayers, and He does not do
it our way, and this may increase our feelings of isolation; however, waiting
on the Lord, and entering His rest, will give us joy and peace that will help
us to see God's hand during our negative circumstances.
- Proverbs 5:21; Matthew 26:36-46
