Loneliness is a common struggle in our culture. Although a person may have 1,000 friends on Facebook, they may still feel very alone. Whether you’re young or old, single or married, you’ve probably struggled with loneliness. At our prison ministries, we know that everyone feels lonely at some point. How should we respond to loneliness?
Here are 3 Biblical ways to fight loneliness.
1) Listen to godly, uplifting music.
According to God’s Word, music is spiritually powerful. When King Saul was troubled by an evil spirit, David came and played his harp. “…So Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.” (1 Samuel 16:23) Because music has the power to change your emotional state, you can use it to fight loneliness.
Choose some godly Christian music, particularly songs that focus on God’s character and love for us. Read through the hymns, and listen to recordings of them on YouTube. This will definitely encourage your heart!
We recommend:
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
“Blessed Assurance”
2) Help someone else.
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”1When we feel lonely, we tend to focus on our own needs and forget about the needs of others. What about the woman in the next cubicle or the elderly couple across the hall? They have struggles, fears, and worries, too. How could you be Jesus’ hands and feet to love them? How could you reach out and make a difference in their lives? In our prison ministries, we seek to meet people’s needs and love them with Jesus’ love.
We recommend:
Offer to pitch in and help someone with a tough project.
Ask someone how you can be praying for them.
Call your grandparents and catch up on their news.
3) Seek Jesus to meet your needs.
Paul Matthies says, “Loneliness is not just the absence of people; it’s the presence of pain, the pain of separation from God and others. It began in the garden of Eden when Adam decided to choose the pleasures of sin and, in doing so, inherited the pain of loneliness.”²
At its heart, loneliness shows our need for Jesus. He is the only One Who promised, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5b) Only Jesus can give us the love, peace, joy, and emotional fulfillment that we need. When you feel lonely, turn to Him, and ask Him to fill your heart with His love.
If you are struggling with loneliness, try these simple ways to fight discouragement. With God’s help, you can fight loneliness and find happiness in your relationship with Christ.
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Are you searching? Jesus has the answers for addictions and stubborn habits. For more information, send the Crossmans a private message here on Facebook or come to a church service at Prince Albert Baptist Church. Take the first step in a walk of freedom!
For more information, call (306) 940-9554 or email anchorofhopeheb@gmail.com
1. Adapted from a quote by Ian MacLaren, in the periodical The British Weekly, December 1897.
2. Quote by Paul Matthies in an article on the website Desiring God. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/20-quotes-on-loneliness (Accessed August 29, 2018).
