Dealing With Loneliness

Loneliness is Destructive

Loneliness can rob you of your joy, and can even steal your will to live. When a family member disappoints you, or a friend walks away, you can feel lonely. When your heart is broken and you don’t think anyone could possibly understand, you can fell lonely. And sometimes, when your relationship with the Lord is not right, you can feel lonely then, too.

Overcoming Lonliness

So when the going gets tough in your life, make a conscious decision not to let loneliness overwhelm you. Instead, use these practical guidelines to wipe it away.

Get Into The Word

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty (the Bible), and continueth therin, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:25

When you read the Bible and obey it, you will find peace and happiness. The promises in God’s Word can set you free. When you feel lonely and discouraged, look to the Lord. Find Him in scripture. Read about His great miracles and learn of His great and powerful love. Remember that God “sticks closer than a brother.” And the greatest way to build your relationship with His is to read and study His word.

Get On Your Knees

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14

This promise is a great assurance. Your heavenly Father wants you to be complete and find joy in Him. If you go to Him in sincere and honest prayer, asking Him to remove the loneliness in your heart, He will do it. Plus, earnest prayer before the Lord can change your mindset and heart. As you pray, you will find the troubles of this world will just melt away the light of His glory and grace.

Get Thankful

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20

Take some time to be thankful for all the many blessings of your life. Even if you have to search to find blessings at times, they are there. Remember that God deserves the praises of His people. He is a great God. Just the fact that He has saved you for eternity is a wonderful blessing. When you feel overwhelmed by loneliness, spend some time thanking God for sending His Son to die for you so that you might live forever with Him someday.

Get Busy

Don’t just sit around and allow loneliness to get the best of you. Get out and make the most of the gifts and talents God has given you. Get involved with your church or work in the community. Make new friends and learn to lean on them when times are tough. Another wonderful way to forget your own problems is to help someone in need. Visit a nursing home. Volunteer at your local hospital or day care. Tutor a troubled student. Anything you can do to take your mind off of YOU will help you erase the loneliness from your life.

My friend, God wants you to be happy. It is not His desire or His will for you to lose days, weeks and months of your life feeling lonely. Decide to make a change in your life right now. Then follow the simple steps above to life you out of that valley of despair.

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Dr. Elmer Towns is a college and seminary professor, an author of popular and scholarly works (the editor of two encyclopedias), a popular seminar lecturer, and dedicated worker in Sunday school, and has developed over 20 resource packets for leadership education.His personal education includes a B.S. from Northwestern College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a M.A. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary also in Dallas, a MRE from Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and a D.Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.He is co-founder of Liberty University, with Jerry Falwell, in 1971, and was the only full-time teacher in the first year of Liberty’s existence. Today, the University has over 11,400 students on campus with 39,000 in the Distance Learning Program (now Liberty University Online), and he is the Dean of the School of Religion.Dr. Towns has given theological lectures and taught intensive seminars at over 50 theological seminaries in America and abroad. He holds visiting professorship rank in five seminaries. He has written over 2,000 reference and/or popular articles and received six honorary doctoral degrees. Four doctoral dissertations have analyzed his contribution to religious education and evangelism.

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