Confronting Loneliness: A Personal Reflection
I do not know about you, but loneliness has hit home hard for me this semester. More than ever, I have felt alone in just about everything I do, and that is not an easy thing to deal with. It just so happened that it took the loneliest year of my life to truly mean the words: “there’s no place I would rather be,” when I am in the Lord’s presence. So often, we look at loneliness as a self-infliction of what we think we deserve, or a result of people not being who we think they should be. Let me start off by saying that while both of these instances may happen, neither of them are expressions of how we need to deal with the singe of loneliness.
Confronting loneliness when you are in the deepest valley of what it gives you is not an easy thing to do. In fact, it can feel quite hopeless to try to do anything. But let me tell you, that even while I was in that place, my one true relief was finding comfort in Jesus. In the mess of it all, giving my time to Jesus, instead of those dangerous thoughts, is exactly what led me straight out of that pit. God hates loneliness, and He wants to see you whole, but He also wants to see you draw closer to Him. By drawing closer to Him, you start the journey towards wholeness. Take this time to pursue the one who is jealous for you. I encourage you to go find your prayer room, sit on the floor and begin talking to God like He is sitting right beside you, because He truly is. In the midst of that, I am sure that He will provide the comfort you so badly desire, but you must allow Him to do so.
When we truly learn how to value and find joy in His presence while accepting the comfort He gives, that becomes the only place we ever want to reside in. I understand your loneliness, I really do. I understand the pain and sadness that comes with loneliness, but I also understand that you can’t remain content in that place. Look to the one that can solve your brokenness, instead of looking at your brokenness. He sees you. He hears you. Sometimes we all need to be reminded of that. I want to remind you that you matter, and you are incredibly valued. Do not let loneliness take root in your heart. Instead, confront it by turning to the One who can fill the hole that it leaves.