Managing the Emotion of Loneliness

Jesus Christ created each of us to be unique. In all of history, in all the whole world, He never made or will make another person exactly like you. You are unique. Jesus Christ does not use a cookie-cutter for His creation. You have specific physical attributes, abilities, talents, strengths, limitations and spiritual gifts. You are unique.

Loneliness is a personal emotion, a feeling of aloneness. We can feel alone even in a crowd. Because your emotions are personal, no one has the right to tell you how you should feel. God designed you uniquely! Your emotions are part of you.

How did Elijah manage his loneliness?

1 Kings 19:¹And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. ² Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. ³ And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.⁴ But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

Did Elijah focus on Jesus Christ and the great victory He had performed against the enemy?  Why?

1 Kings 18:⁴⁰ And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

What do you learn from Elijah’s example?

How did Paul manage his loneliness?

2 Timothy 4:¹⁶ At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.¹⁷ Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.¹⁸ And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

What do you learn from Paul’s example?

How did Jesus manage His loneliness?

Matthew 26: ⁵⁶ But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.⁵⁷ And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

Matthew 27: ⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?⁴⁷ Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.⁴⁸ And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.⁴⁹ The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.⁵⁰ Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

Mark 14: ⁵⁰ And they all forsook him, and fled.

Mark 15:³⁴ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?³⁵ And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.³⁶ And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.³⁷ And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

What do you learn from Jesus’ example?

When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will never again be alone. His promise to you is recorded in Hebrews 13:⁵Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.⁶ So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Questions for Reflection

• Do you feel alone today?
• What is causing that feeling of loneliness?
• What do Jesus Christ’s experiences of loneliness mean to you?

Jesus completely understands!

Hebrews 4:⁹ There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.¹⁰For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.¹¹Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.¹²For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.¹⁴Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good  plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti