We all experience loneliness.
It can be brief or it can seem endless. In either case, I think that it is hard to be lonely and happy at the same time.
Loneliness and happiness are mutually exclusive.
I believe that God wants us to be happy……..joyfull. In fact, I would go so far as to say that happiness is our natural state. I have heard it said that joy………happiness…….is the surest sign of the presence of God. Happiness will be a central feature of paradise. Joy is our natural response to God.
I believe that our deep abiding desire for happiness is a reflection of God’s heart.
If happiness is what God wants for us, then I have to believe that loneliness is not part of God’s plan.
We were clearly created for relationship. If you ask 100 people who are near the end of their lives what the was worst thing that ever happened to them, the answer will usually be the loss of a relationship.
The Bible can be summed up in one sentence:
Love God and love your neighbor.
To rephrase: nurture relationships with God and your fellow man.
If we steadfastly work toward those two goals, we will be happy rather than lonely.
I have often said that the only route to true lasting happiness is to love and care for others. But, it is difficult to will ourselves to love someone. It is much easier to care for their needs. And one of their needs…….just like you…….is relationship. Care for the needs of those around you and love will grow……. relationships will grow……… happiness will grow.
So……….the fix is to care for others. Build relationships, and you will find happiness. Build your relationship with those around you……build your relationship with your creator.
And, it turns out, that is also the fix for loneliness.
I wish that I could say that I am good at this……. unfortunately, I am not.
Something to work on…………today.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
Moses, NIV
God sets the lonely in families
David, NIV