Loneliness 1: The Soul of the Matter

We recently did a freedom from Fear Series at our Church. I wrote these devotionals for the Fear of Loneliness. They seem to fit with our current study of Community, so I will republish all six.
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So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

I'm not sure that we fear loneliness, as in being afraid of this beast calls loneliness but I think we feel lonely. The difference may be small but I think there is a difference. I guess I don't think loneliness strikes fear in people, especially in America where we value our independence. But I do think that everyone feels the nagging pain of loneliness.... some more than others.

Before dealing with the concept of loneliness we must define what we are talking about. Ed Young, Jr. in his book "Know Fear" suggests it is "being without true companionship." It is not a feeling based upon what we have but its focus is upon what we do not have. The struggle with loneliness is a feeling of isolation or separation. It is the sense that something is absent. It is like the hole in the centerfavorite favority donut, you can stick your finger through it because it is not there. It is the feeling that comes when one pines for a spouse or is grieving their loss. Or it is the feeling when one longs for a true friend or moves 1000 miles away from their best one.

Just this week, I spoke with two girls who sense this loss. One moved into town 5 months ago, and is still struggling to find a church. She shared that one of the biggest things missing in her life is friends. Another girl lost her mother to cancer just this past week. She was very close to her mom and the pain of losing her hurts.

Why does this lack of "true companionship" in our lives bother us so much? Because at the core of our being we were designed for intimate companionship. We were designed in the image of God (Gen. 1:26). God himself is one being in three persons. So God in his oneness is also threeness, we call this the doctrine of the trinity. The Godhead is self-sufficient apart from relationship with mankind because he exists in an intra-trinitarian loving relationship. So as image-bearers of God all mankind is designed for relationship or should we say "true companionship." So when we lack that, the ache is in the depth of our being. We know that something is not well with our soul.

This week we will consider what part loneliness plays in your life and relationships. Ask God to open your eyes to the ways in which feelings of loneliness are present in your life.