Loneliness is not my bff

     I slam my car door and sit in silence, I see people around me and think “Man I hate this feeling!” What feeling you may ask? Loneliness. In every stage of life there is a day, a week, and a season that one may feel lonely. Well to be honest I have been in that season. The season where I longed  for a true friend, someone that would sit and listen to my problems, someone that would just text me something funny because they thought I would laugh, and  I longed to have solidified Friday night plans every weekend. Have you been there?  Loneliness is a place that I don’t like to visit. I am a very people oriented person and being alone is just not for me.  I can definitely do activities alone and even live alone but when the feeling of loneliness creeps in it can be a scary place. The feeling of loneliness can bring about emotions questioning who you are, doubting that people care about you and the list goes on.

Why does the feeling lonely really suck?

We were made for community. We were designed by God to be social people.  Loneliness sucks because we are naturally made to long to be with people and a part of a community. As Christians we are charged to be in the church body for community and build others up. Loneliness also sucks because it is often times out of our control. We cannot help if our friends move away, our friends have plans or our friends and families lives change.  

 

So what do you do about your loneliness?

 In my loneliness I often items don’t know what to do. I have found myself scrolling through my phone trying to figure out who I could hang out with.  What we as daughters of Christ should do in our loneliness is seek God. Now this might sound like a church answer but it is the truth. We need to look and see what God is wanting tuo teach us in our loneliness. We also have to be reminded that we actually are never alone.

Isaiah 41:10 : Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

In your loneliness you have to be reminded that God is with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. Even if you are alone God is still there. Even on the Friday nights that you have no plans he is there.

Ideas of things to do when you lonely

1.     Spend time with God

2.     Read a good book (Karen Kingsbury I highly recommend)

3.     Rent a movie

4.     Go to the Gym

5.     Go on a date by yourself to the movies

I would be lying to say that these ideas satisfy my loneliness all the time.  However we as daughter Christ can wallow in our loneliness. We have to rise above even though it is hard. We have to give our loneliness to God and let him be our strength and the place that we find peace and rest. There is no quick fix to being lonely, however what I can challenge you to do is don’t give up on people. If you get rejected from one friend try getting together with another and if you end up still alone know you tried and that loneliness does just last for a season and that season will not last forever.