I have lived most of my life feeling lonely. You would never know it though because I hid it well, from the world and sometimes even from myself.
As we search for satisfaction and fulfillment we believe that it’s out there, somewhere, in the land of the “if only’s.”
We subtly believe that things, people or activities will fulfill the hole that’s inside of us, the hole that’s inside of our being, inside of our very soul. This, however, is a lie.
The reality is that there is no man, amount of money, activity, good health etc. that can fulfill us.
The truth is that without a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ we will always feel lonely. The world will encourage sex, drugs, alcohol, food, shopping, people, success, traveling, gambling, being busy, and/or friendships as the answer for our emptiness. They are not. None of these will fill that spot in our soul that is only meant to be fulfilled by the God who created us, the God that adores us, the God that yearns for a personal relationship with us- Jesus Christ. I have even wondered if God didn’t create the feeling of loneliness within us knowing that nothing would be able to fill it except for an intimacy with Him.
I learned this lesson through my own life experiences. I was one of those people that went “looking for love in all the wrong places,” but I always came up feeling empty. The heaviness just wouldn’t leave me. It was always there and became a part of me. I would consistently feel sad and empty inside.
…and then I met Jesus. Hallelujah! No more loneliness, right? Wrong. I was still lonely.
I learned it wasn’t enough just to meet Jesus and to believe that He was my savior. I had a more important lesson to learn. I had to learn what it meant to make Him Lord over my life.
After an 18 month separation, when my husband and I had reconciled, I learned a valuable lesson on loneliness. During our separation I felt very lonely. I thought this was a natural thing for me to feel. I mean, no wife wants to be separated and on the verge of divorce. When my husband and I got back together, we were so happy. We had a new marriage, a better marriage, than we could ever have imagined. Our family was together, we were serving in our church, leading men and women to be healthier individuals, finances were not an issue, and we were healthy.
There was absolutely nothing missing in my life and I still felt lonely!
Then one night I had an “Aha” moment. I started questioning why I was feeling lonely. It actually felt very confusing to me. I mean, life had never been more fulfilling. It didn’t make any sense that I would feel lonely. Then in my quiet time I sensed the Lord telling me “that’s because you still haven’t put Me in My rightful place of your heart.” I was so convicted because I knew He was right, I hadn’t.
The battle with loneliness is won by looking within, at our relationship with Christ.
That night changed me forever. I’m not saying I don’t struggle with loneliness anymore, because I still do. By nature, I am constantly looking to outside things to fulfill me. What I have learned, however, is that when I keep my focus on Jesus and the things that He wants for me, such as spending time with other Christians, time in His Word, journaling, serving others, and praying, then my feelings of loneliness are replaced with God’s peace.
Do you struggle with loneliness? Do you know Jesus personally? Is Jesus truly sitting on the throne of your heart? The battle of loneliness is won by living in the presence of God. May you come to know Him in a real and tangible way today.
” Then when you will call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here’ ” ~ Isaiah 58:9
Great word! And solid writing 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Thank you SO much Roman! YOU have been a pillar of support for me. I couldn’t do this without you:)
Cut to the chase, I want Jesus to sit on the throne of my heart.
Amen! You and me both! Love you~
Thanks for the good word! (And Roman is right. Good writing from someone who studied at that big house in Cambridge…ah those days in Boston)
…back to blogging
I know from personal experience that unless you have a daily relationship with the Lord, we will have a tendency to believe every thought that pops into our heads. Alot of these thouhgts are put there by the enemy. It is important to cancel the lie with the truth of His (the Lord’s) word. Just like Jesus did. You are so right to be taking focus off ourselves and onto others too. In serving we will find more joy, more peace and in alot of cases the fullfilling of our destinies. Bless the Lord, your tests have turned into testimonies for a hurting world, girl! Blessings, R.
Rani, your words bless me so much. Thank you for taking the time to share with me. I’m so happy to hear that you are reading my blogs. Make sure to sign up to get email notifications of them. You are a wonderful woman of God. So amazed at how the Lord put us together. He is amazing. Love you sis~
Good Morning Tweeny!
I am so thankful to have read your blog on lonliness. Lonliness resignates with how I feel many of times… that”s why I may run here and about being a busy body?! God is using you to help me and many others and for that I am thankful and am receiving all that he is using you to do! When I first met you, I saw a light that was beyond non other and now your light shines brighter to me. I needed to see a good woman, wife, mother and a wonderful woman Christian that exemplifies true Christianity and I see that in you!
You are non judgemental but your spirit allows me and I am certain others to want to do better in my/their walk with Jesus Christ. I love you and again thank you!!!!!!!
Casey.
Your words brought tears to my eyes! What you said to me is truly the highest compliment someone could give me. I want nothing more than to represent Jesus accurately. So thank you very much for being so open and so honest! I’m glad this blog on loneliness spoke to you. I will be praying that you would be applying it to your life. We all get busy, but that actually is a trap, a distraction to keep us away from the fullness of life that Jesus died for us to live.May the Lord guide you and be so powerful in your life as you seek Him and His ways. You are precious to Him and He wants ALL of you. Love you too~ Thanks again for your encouragement:)
Love what you shared about loneliness. Your writing and courage to share are a gift. Love you my sister!
Thanks for your encouragement Julie~Our friendship is a gift to me. Thank you for being an iron sharpening iron type of friend to me. Love you too sweet friend:)