Thursday, September 28
Why Are We All So Lonely?
A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, NIV
A British paper ran a column entitled “Life Looks Good on the Surface So Why Are We All So Lonely?” The writer Liz Hoggard said her life looked great in her social media posts. She attended the theater every night and spent her weekends at cultural events. One person told her, “I follow your glittery life in awe.” But, Liz admitted, her stress, tears, rejection, and loneliness don’t show up on her social media posts, yet they are a constant reality.1
Some of our loneliest moments occur on important days—birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Why not anticipate the challenges in advance? You know when your birthday will occur. Plan what you’re going to do. Invite a neighbor for tea on that day or spend the afternoon volunteering. If possible, let your family know you might need them on that day. By planning in advance, you can minimize the dangers of self-pity or loneliness.
We can’t avoid loneliness, but as Christians we should be able to deal with it better than those without Christ. Ask for God’s help, reach out to others, and don’t let loneliness get the best of you.
God doesn’t only come and sit with us; He also enables us to enjoy the pleasures of His presence.
Paul Matthies
1Liz Haggard, “Life Looks So Good on the Surface…” The Telegraph, April 23, 2017.
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