The ironic thing about feeling lonely is that we often times feel lonely when everyone else does. Loneliness and being alone are two different things. Being alone is more than likely a choice but being lonely involves emotions not just your surroundings. There have been many times where I have felt lonely in a crowded room. I can be surrounded by people I love and still feel alone in this world. This is something I have struggled with for a long time. I know this has been a struggle because I lack community. I have struggled to find good community since graduating high school. God created us to desire community. It is in our DNA to crave community when we don’t have it. I find myself constantly craving this. Loneliness makes people feel isolated, separated and abandoned. I could use these words to describe the last two years of my life.
The past two years of my life have had some of the biggest challenges I have faced yet. Dealing with shame, depression, anxiety, and loneliness tends to take a toll on someone’s heart. It seemed to become my identity. Although not everyone knew how I was feeling, I was still overwhelmed with loneliness at times. Remembering loneliness isn’t about proximity its about connection. I felt like I lost connection with close friends, family members, and my “normal” life. The only thing I found comfort in for a long time was knowing that God was always with me. Now I realize that is truly all I need. There are a few verses that I always go back to in moments of loneliness:
? Isaiah 41:10, Fear not for I am with you.
? Isaiah 43:1-2, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
? Joshua 1:9, For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
? Deuteronomy 31:6, He will not leave you or forsake you.
? Matthew 28:20, And Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
These verse give me peace in my loneliness. These verse affirm the fact that God is always with us through the deep waters, fires, rivers and to the end of age. He will never leave or forsake us. This not only gives me peace but it gives me hope to hold onto when I feel alone in this world. Loneliness doesn’t come from the Lord it only comes from feelings of the flesh. Do not lose hope when you are feeling lonely for God is always with you, not only is he with you but he is in you. He surrounds us, loves us, walks with us and always guides us. Even if we become the loneliest of the loneliest, there is still God. He remains the same, constant, and eternal. For He is the Lord our God.
With love,
Catherine Jane
