Loneliness

https://odb.org/MY/2023/02/06/the-loneliest-man

There is a saying that goes, you can be lonely in a crowd, meaning to say, you are not all alone like Robinson Crusoe on an island or Michael Collins of Appollo II on the far side of the moon having lost contact with his fellow astronauts and earth, yet we are lonely.

We are lonely because we are not doing things together or are not of the same bandwidth. There is an emotional disconnect. We can not truly relate to those around us. Maybe because our mission in life is too radically different. We are on a mission to fulfil God’s plans and purposes while they are on a mission, their own pursuits, and ambitions. So our friends will not be the ones to encourage us to strive harder for the Lord. Instead, they may mock and laugh at us.

If we have a soul-mate who is on the same wavelength as us in terms of our mission and service in God, then we have someone to relate to and motivate and support each other to achieve our goals in the Lord. That will be good. But then human companionship has its limitations.

Ultimately, like Joseph being thrown into prison for a crime he did not commit, the best person to console and encourage us if we feel we are all alone is the Lord Himself. When the Lord was with Joseph, He showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warden. That is what we should aim for if we feel we are all alone. Lest we turn to drink and other avenues and bring ourselves into the downward spiral of brokenness and depression.

In the case of Elijah, who had defeated the prophets of Baal and yet was disappointed by the Israelites’ insolence of not turning back to God, the LORD sent an angel to comfort and cook for him. Later, at the cave in Mount Horeb, the LORD encouraged and gave him a way out of his disappointment. In fact, the LORD assured him that he had reserved 7,000 in Israel, who had not bowed down to Baal. See 1 Kings 19.

As human beings, we will all go through seasons when we may feel we are all alone despite being with friends and colleagues or fellow workers in Christ. Seek out the Lord for He will surely be with us like He did with Joseph and Elijah to encourage us. Always remain righteous before Him and faithful to Him and do not look elsewhere to drown our sorrows and disappointments or loneliness. Look to the LORD, and He will give us rest.