No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you.
Joshua 1:5
In 1969 the band Three Dog Night recorded a song written by Harry Nilson. As a teen I remember singing this song over and over. The chorus would play like a broken record in my head. It went like this:
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
ONE...That number is daunting to me. It is either very, very powerful or super, super lonely. In the next few weeks I want us to look at the issue of loneliness. It's becoming pandemic in North America. I find that quite interesting in light of the media driven, connected culture we have created. Maybe the aforementioned is part of the problem. We were created for community and other human contact. The Wall Street Journal in November of 2013 addressed the issue of Americans and our loneliness. Psychologist and director of the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience at the University of Chicago estimates that some 40% of Americans are lonely, up from 20% in the 1980s. Loneliness is said to be the ONE issues of Pastor's wives.
That being said, you don't have to be alone to be lonely. Loneliness can be a feeling of separation or a lack of connection with the people you are associated. It can lead to desperation and even depression along with a whole long list of other nasty emotions. Let's bring it into the light of God's Word and get God's take on this pandemic emotion.
1. Acknowledge that loneliness is a feeling not a FACT.
I am not minimizing your feelings but I know from experience that I cannot trust my own feelings. What I might be feeling cannot rule my life. Many counselors have exposed the connection with loneliness in it's most unhealthy form, has an emotional trigger associated with it and that trigger in many cases has to do with trust. Can you relate?
Trust in the Lord. Have faith, do not despair. Trust in the Lord. Psalm 27:14,
I will bless the person who puts his trust in ME.
Jeremiah 17:7
2. Boldly take the stand and declare as a believer you are not alone. Lean hard on the Truth of God's Word. Trust the Lord through His Word and hide HIS truth in your heart. Take Him at His Word. Believe that He will take care of you. Carve out time and as a sweet sister of mine says to me, "Girl, you need to go get your praise on!"
"Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
"Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you." I Peter 5:7
3. Don't live your life through your social media. TURN off your phone, computer, tablet and engage another like minded individual. Ministry wife - find another ministry wife in your community - even if she belongs to a different denomination. Go have coffee. Lunch. Prayer time. Bible Study. Iron sharpens iron.
Our great enemy....Satan....knows that if he can divide us....separate us....then he can conquer us.
We can conquer loneliness ladies!
Praying for you!
