Alone Doesn't Have to Mean Lonely

Old 10-20-2008, 06:43 AM
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Alone Doesn't Have to Mean Lonely

One of my best friends just sent this to me today. It is difficult for me to even concentrate to read this, but I thought maybe it would help some of us today who are feeling sad/alone.



Alone Doesn't Have to Mean Lonely

by Joyce Meyer

A major problem facing many people today is loneliness. As I travel the
world, I see an increasing number of people requesting help and guidance
on handling loneliness in their lives.

In the Bible God tells us we are not alone. He wants to deliver,
comfort and heal us. But when people encounter painful losses in their
lives, sadly, many never get over them. Sometimes when sudden tragedy
occurs, the hurt seems unbearable. Without help, a sense of loneliness
can actually settle on a person or family like a cloud, and it doesn't
seem to go away.

There are many causes of loneliness, but many people don't realize that
they don't have to live with it. They can confront it and deal with it.
Loneliness often manifests as an inner ache, a vacuum, or a craving for
affection. Its side effects include feelings of emptiness, uselessness
or purposelessness.

Are you alone (independent, solitary, on your own)? Or, are you lonely
(desolate, deserted, dejected due to a lack of companionship)? There is
a very real difference. It’s important to realize that just because
you are alone, it doesn't mean you must be lonely or lonesome. While it
may not always be possible to avoid being alone, there are always
answers to loneliness. Many times loneliness results from a trauma or
crisis due to the death of a loved one, a divorce, or separation. When
something happens that makes us realize that things are never going to
be the way they once were, it often creates crisis or trauma in our
lives, which can lead to a sense of loneliness and despair.

Like a healing wound, the pain may be felt for a long time, but
complete recovery requires daily improvement. When a physical wound
refuses to heal, it indicates there’s an infection that must be dealt
with. I believe the same is true of emotional wounds: the emotional part
of us should heal just like the physical part of us. God gave us
emotions just as He gave us physical bodies. He has provided for our
emotional restoration in Him just as He has provided for it physically.
While it is true that you may always miss the person or the thing that
was lost, it doesn’t mean that you must suffer permanent loneliness.

I believe there are two things anyone wishing to overcome loneliness
must do:

1. Know that God is with you all the time. In the Bible God reminds us
that He is always with us and He'll never forsake us (see Hebrews 13:5).
Loneliness often leads us to ask ourselves all sorts of questions that
can't be answered, such as: What if I am alone for the rest of my life?
What if this pain I am feeling never goes away? What if a problem arises
that I don't know how to handle on my own? What if...what if...what
if...? The questions could go on and on endlessly. Chances are, you'll
never be able to answer the "what ifs" in life. But as long as you know
that the Lord is with you, you can be assured that He has all the
answers you need.

2. Press aggressively into a new life. Not everything in your life is
over; just one part of it has ended. One season has passed and another
can now begin—if you are willing to take action. Don't just passively
sit and wait for something to happen or someone to come along. Go make
new friends. Find someone else who is lonely and be a friend to that
person. You will reap what you sow, and God will return that friendship
many times over.

Let the loneliness you feel turn into compassion for other lonely
people, and then decide to do something about it!
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Old 10-20-2008, 06:39 PM
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gns
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Thank you for this post. It is very inspiring!
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