The cure for loneliness?

I feel pretty sure that nobody could say that they have never felt lonely. It’s something that affects us all to some extent or other. Sometimes you may be surrounded by many people and yet still feel lonely and still feel that nobody quite understands you. Perhaps you feel that nobody understands or even cares.

As a Christian we can sometimes feel even more like this. When we look around at all our class mates, our friends or our colleagues, we can very easily find ourselves in an environment where nobody else is a Christian, and it’s easy to feel alone.

You're not the only one...

It’s important to realise that you are not the first to feel like this. Elijah was a man who lived in old testament times. Elijah was a prophet for God and yet rather than speak to people about God he had run away because he feared for his own life. He ended up in a cave all by himself.

You can read about the story in 1 Kings Chapter 19.

In the cave he hears the Lord speak to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” and so Elijah tells the Lord his sorry tale:
“I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 
I think this is the first good point we can learn from this story. Never be afraid to tell the Lord about your problems, we can pray to him anywhere and he will hear us.

Basically, Elijah tells God, “I’ve worked so hard, I’ve tried my best, and look, no one is listening to what I say. Everyone else who agreed with me is gone and now it’s only me, and they want to get rid of me too!”

Then Elijah witnessed a great storm. The mountain where his cave was located was being battered by a great wind and an earthquake and even a fire! This was a demonstration for Elijah of the power of God (I think Elijah had forgotten about it). In the previous chapter God had used him in an amazing way to speak to everyone, and yet Elijah seemed to forget how powerful God was. He forgot that God could take care of Him, and that God would take care of him, and of course that God was able to be there with him, even in his cave in the middle of nowhere.

Not only does God tell Elijah, “you are not alone” but He adds in verse 18 “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal”

So we see the reality, that there were a lot more people following God than Elijah realised.  It is important to remember, it’s exactly the same today. You are not alone, you are not the only Christian out there, there are others! Go and find them, maybe your school or university has a Christian Union. Go along to a church where you can find others and be encouraged.

The Lord Jesus is our example

But maybe despite all that there are still times when you find yourself on your own... Well, next time you feel like this, look beside you and think “He is here”.
Who am I talking about? I’m talking about the Lord Jesus himself. He has promised “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)

So, wherever you are, He is there! And not only so but he understands exactly how you feel. When the Lord Jesus was here on this earth, he also felt alone. In the Psalms it says

“I am like a pelican of the wilderness;

I am like an owl of the desert.

I lie awake,

And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.” Psalm 102:6-7

Owls and pelicans do not belong in the desert. Today we might use the expression “Like a fish out of water”. That is how it was for him when he was here on this earth. Can you imagine what it was like for the Lord Jesus? 
Everyone else was a sinner, and He was the perfect man. He was so totally different from them! 

The verse also talks about a sparrow alone on the housetop. Sparrows are normally seen in great numbers, they flock together and to see one alone is a quite unusual. Perhaps it’s the ultimate picture of loneliness.

So to sum up, He really does understand, so if you ever find yourself in a situation where you feel so alone or feel like nobody understands, look beside you and think “He is here, He understands, He cares”

“casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 

Love,
Chris.