So You’re Lonely and You Don’t Know What To Do About It.
So You’re Lonely and You Don’t Know What To Do About It.
August 20, 2024
Wanna know something kind of surprising?
It’s okay to be alone.
I know you see togetherness everywhere you go. Advertisements of husbands, wives, sisters, friends, fathers, mothers, and children, all smiling and laughing, boasting their support and community.
Our society celebrates social interaction and togetherness - as it should since it’s the hallmark of blooming social health. But everyone goes through phases of isolation and loneliness. It’s easy to feel like solitude should be avoided at all costs.
Fortunately, embracing isolation may be exactly what you need!
You’ll never spend more time with yourself than when you’re feeling lonely.
Have you heard the saying, “If you don’t make time for rest, your body will make time for illness”? Well, loneliness is the same way.
If you don’t take the time to reflect and get to know yourself, God will make the time for you.
Consider this: Loneliness is God reaching out His hand, looking to connect with you.
What you do next is up to you, but I have a few ideas to throw out.
A lot of people do their best thinking when they’re alone. Change your mindset, and take this period of stillness as an opportunity rather than a punishment.
Solitude provides us with the space to brainstorm, experiment, and innovate without distractions or interruptions.
If it helps, think about the very first story in the Bible. God existed in divine isolation, and through this, His isolation transformed a chaotic, formless void into a thriving world with structure and purpose.
This is the birth of creativity.
Once you choose to benefit from loneliness, you can transform the raw potential you discover in moments of solitude into purposeful, ordered, and beautiful outcomes.
As Luke 5:16 says, Jesus often withdrew to solitary places to pray and recharge. We’d be smart to replicate His self-care habit on ourselves, to build emotional strength and resilience through prayer, and inner work.
Jesus is the model for so much, it should be no surprise He had self-care down to a science, especially when it comes to prayer. Through Him, we can develop these divine coping strategies and become more self-reliant, cutting down all the extra noise and worrying that we’re accustomed to.
Isolation teaches us to appreciate the constant presence and love of God. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God." He’s saying to us that He has us, that we’re never truly alone. This is the ultimate confidence boost! He’s got you, you can do your thing, explore, learn, and grow, and you won’t fall!
And I leave you one final piece of scripture!
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
