“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you; I will also help you; I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NASB)
Tuesday while sitting in a waiting area, I picked up and peaked at a popular magazine. The front cover caught my eye because over to the right, in smaller print than the supersize prints used for the feature story that was supplemented by a picture of a star, there were the words, “The Loneliness Endemic.” I never read the article, but I speculated, and I could be wrong, that this inserted article was about the hangover tendency, an impact cause by past avoidance of social gatherings and swarming crowds during the recent pandemic. When I got home, I looked the topic up on the internet. The first thing I saw was a page full of ads, about books with the same or similar title, all purchasing opportunities of books zeroing in on “The Loneliness Endemic” and related insights. The ads got the same identical treatment I gave the initial article I saw in the waiting area mentioned above. In other words, I didn’t read any further. However, as I viewed the first page I clicked on, I imagined the subject matter contributed by intellectuals, in general, had to be centered around the difficulties people have with loneliness, not only from a social perspective, but from psychological and physical perspectives as well.
That’s speculation, my imagination, a right or wrong evaluation, but surely it does not negate the truth that loneliness is something people deal with more than we recognize. It is not just a circumstance that comes against those who are living alone. Loneliness is a circumstance that impacts or attacks, you choose which word to insert, people due to all kinds of situations, ranging from the changing lifestyle of being retired to the raised level of grief due to a loss of family, jobs, friends, status and separation. Working from home can also open the door to loneliness. There are a lot of conditions or happenings that rob one of their desires or ability to socialize with other beings. Listen! Loneliness will hit us all at some time or the other in our lifetime, for a temporary time or for an extended period where we will battle against loneliness. It can prevail longer than it should at times. That’s a fact. But here is a fix or some fixes. Keep reading and you will see more than one recommended remedy, and you will need to employ a combination of remedies to be victorious over loneliness.
Fix or Fixes: Get closer to the Lord. Just as you exerted energy to go into a cave, exert the same energy to get out of the cave. More about the fix or fixes: Change your focus from self-serving to serving others. Commune with the Lord in prayer. As the songs says, “Have a little talk with Jesus.” Remember, God is a very present help in times of trouble. Friend, be like the laboring oxen that go down to rest on a unpaved road but rise up to walk in undeniable new strength. Our strength does come from the Lord. One caution, any fix is not something like a pill that you only take once, but you need to take the fix serious, steadily, daily, drawing closer and closer to the Lord. Stay committed to the climb, sustain the momentum, and achieve excellence.
I hope this helps somebody, now or when it is needed. Read the verses from a hymn, found below, composed by an unidentified author, but not unfamiliar to most believers. This composition has been published in many church hymnals. There is a helpful message to be heard and after hearing, head away from the loneliness endemic. Have a better day than you imagined when you arose this morning! Love you! Be blessed!
“I’ve seen the lightening flashing and hear the thunder roll. I’ve felt sins breakers dashing, which tried to conquer my soul. I’ve heard the voice of my Savior, He bid me still to fight on. He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone. When in affliction’s valley, I tread the road of care. My Savior helps me to carry my cross so heavy to bear. Though all about me is darkness and earthly joys are flown, my Savior whispers His promise: Never to leave me alone.”
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King