When you are alone, you are not alone. Jesus promised that he is with you always. But you may feel alone. You may long for interaction and companionship with others. And there is a reason for that. God created us to exist in community with others.
Think about the nature of the Triune God. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God himself exists in community. And we are created in his image. Thus it stands to reason that we are created with a longing and a need for community. It is the reason that Jesus instituted his church. It is so that believers could interact in community. He didn’t call one disciple. He called twelve.
But loneliness is something that runs rampant in our culture. We are increasingly isolated from one another. Technology is great to keep us connected when we are apart. I am grateful that we had live streaming available at the beginning of the Covid pandemic. But Zoom, YouTube, and Facebook are not a substitute for being physically present with others.
I will admit that there are times when I don’t want to go outside the house. I would rather veg on the couch and watch TV. There are certainly times to retreat and isolate yourself. It is good to have that personal time. But it must be balanced with meaningful interaction with others.
I want to suggest that loneliness is a choice. There is something you can do about it. There are plenty of opportunities within the church and outside the church to build relationships with others. You may need to step out of your comfort zone.
Here are some ideas. I imagine you can come up with a few more.
- Find opportunities to volunteer in your community.
- Join Meetup.com and find groups that match your interests. Last year, I joined the Jersey Droners on Meetup and have enjoyed flying at meetups on Saturday mornings.
- Start a small group (study or service group) in your church.
- Invite your neighbors for dinner.
The last thing to mention is that finding good friends starts with being a good friend. We tend to attract people who are like us. What do you value in others? Reflect those values. Don’t wait for someone to come and introduce themselves to you. Introduce yourself to them! Take an interest in them. Don’t spend the time talking about yourself. Ask them questions. Everyone wants to be heard. Everyone wants someone to listen. If you be that person to listen you will quickly find yourself surrounded by people who will value you and their time with you.
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