There is a popular saying that says, “No man is an island,” to which, some will agree and some will disagree. But if we think about it, indeed we can conclude that no man is an island. In many areas of our lives, we are dependent upon something or someone, and ultimately, humanity cannot exist without God. And because of this, we sometimes are not comfortable being alone. There are people who suffer loneliness and at times they cannot bear it so they eventually take their own lives. However, there are people who use loneliness to their advantage and come out of that situation rejuvenated.
Thus, loneliness can be a blessing or a curse depending on a person’s perspective and where his eyes are focused.
Surely, there are many examples in the Bible of people who experienced loneliness:
- Joseph experienced loneliness when he was sold by his brothers into slavery; when he was imprisoned because of a false accusation; and when he was forgotten by the butler inside the prison. Genesis 37-41
- Job experienced loneliness when he was tried. All the things that he had were gone, including his children. He was also discouraged by his wife and his friends. Job 2:9-10; 4-5;8,18
- Elijah experienced loneliness when Queen Jezebel sought to kill him. He felt so desperately alone that he asked God to just take his life. I Kings 19:4
- Jesus experienced loneliness when He was nailed to the cross to pay the penalty of sin as He cried out, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46
These people were plunged into deep sadness and loneliness but, in the end, came out strengthened and victorious because during their loneliness they found the Lord. God promises in His Word that He will not leave us nor forsake us.
To end this thought, there is one loneliness that Jesus Christ exemplified during his time here, on earth, and that is spending time alone with God. Matthew 14:23 says, “And when he had sent the multitude away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray; and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” This kind of “aloneness” will give us spiritual strength in facing our day to day “battles.” One author said, “God hears your hurried prayers. But He yearns for you to give Him an uncluttered slice of your time, free from the distractions of your busy day.”
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”