Christmas is almost here and what have you been wantin'? Got some feelings of loneliness this time of year?
What are you going to do with em? Many people try to drink or smoke em away.
Yes, many people feel lonely ..especially during the holiday season. I hate that, and I feel for them. Been there, done that before.
May I ask you.. Is someone who was once there with you.. who meant a whole lot to you.. not there with you any more? So sorry! There is Someone there for you this year.
A new Harvard study came out to show us how many Americans often feel lonely as of late.
The study shows us that 36 percent of Americans feel significantly alone and lonely almost all the time (here). ALMOST ALL THE TIME!
Hey no cliché here, but it’s Christmas time and God is still love and He’s SO there for you. Right now. Where you are, and He gets it. He can meet every need, just believe! The Bible says...
"So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us.'” Matthew 1:22-23 nkjv
You know there are a lot of names for Christ, but here’s a name for Him that I like a whole lot! I really love Immanuel more than so many names!
Who feels lonely at times? Perhaps everyone. Even famous people aren’t exempt from sadness, from loneliness and from emptiness—they are human, just like us. They are not super-human, they are just like us.
The only difference is “they just happen to have the money, fame and luxurious lifestyles many dream of having — except they get to experience firsthand just how empty it all is.”
One doctor named Robin Smith wrote a book called "Hungry: The Truth about being Full," and in it she writes about those who feel a loneliness, a void, an emptiness in their lives after experiencing success. She calls it being "hungry for the high note."
She goes on to write about the early deaths of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston back in the day. "People say that drugs killed them. Drugs didn't Kill them. What killed them is they were striving and hungry. They were striving to 'Hit the high note again.'" People hate to feel lonely, empty, broken, or like some has-been. Jesus understands!
“As a society, we do little to support emerging adults at precisely the time when they are dealing with the most defining, stressful decisions of their lives related to work, love, and identity. Who to love? What to be?” ~ Loneliness in America
“Among American adults today, 36% (of respondents) reported serious loneliness—feeling lonely “frequently” or “almost all the time or all the time..” This included 61% of young people aged 18-25 and 51% of mothers with young children.
43% of young adults reported increases in loneliness since the outbreak of the pandemic. About half of lonely young adults in our survey reported that no one in the past few weeks had “taken more than just a few minutes” to ask how they are doing in a way that made them feel like the person “genuinely cared.”
Young adults suffer high rates of both loneliness and anxiety and depression. According to a recent CDC survey, 63% of this age group are suffering significant symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Again, this fairly new report suggests that 36% of all Americans—including 61% of young adults and 51% of mothers with young children—feel “serious loneliness.” Not surprisingly, loneliness appears to have increased substantially since the outbreak of the global pandemic.”
You also know there are many types of loneliness today, and various causes of loneliness, and the potentially steep costs of loneliness seems to be rising higher.. including early mortality and a wide array of serious physical and emotional problems, including depression, anxiety, heart disease, substance abuse, and domestic abuse. This doesn't need to happen at all. Please don’t abuse yourself or any other human ..never ever, not even if they are still in the womb!
Listen, you can be a part of the problem today, or you can be a part of the Solution today.. in Christ (this world's ulitmate Soluiton). He loves all sinners like me, and He can forgive any sin we've committed.
So which will you choose? What do I say? I say get your name on the roll, and be on the rock -- build others up every day! Believers can help to build up our physical and our social infrastructure (with zero racism) too.. at every level in our communities ..if there is a willingness to build together.
For decades small groups have been so important to Liney and I against loneliness etc. Even now more than before. I'm not takin' about religious groups or ones based on downer-problems, or 12 steps (which might be good steps), or on personal opinions, but on what’s really so and very edifying for all. Believer, you have a story to tell that can help others -- yes, there are those who need to hear it. There are people who need to hear the Gospel story! It's imperative. Let's build up instead of tear down.. one by one by one. Let's build upon true words and sound principles (in the Bible), and upon viable solutions from God that'll last -- that go the distance for all kinds of people everywhere.
We each have a part to play so to speak. We each can do something to restore our commitments to Him, to His Church, to each other and to the common good in this country.. even to those citizens who are vulnerable.
This Loneliness in America: How the Pandemic Has Deepened an Epidemic of Loneliness and What We Can Do About It report is based on an online survey of approximately 950 Americans in October 2020.
“The Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8
Years ago, Roy Orbison recorded one of the great rock n roll classics, entitled, "Only the Lonely."
Remember it? A couple of the lines from the song go, "Only the lonely know the way I feel tonight.. Only the lonely know the heartaches I’ve been through."
Have you ever heard it? What do you think about that song? Did it resonate with you any? That song did with a lot of lonely people who knew what it was like to feel isolated (even with certain people), rejected, or abandoned by those who shouldn’t ever abandon.
Have you been palmed in the face so to speak, or ditched, pushed, or straight-armed? Do you have puffed up, smug, impudent sons or daughters that have done that to you or to other family members, though you’ve raised them never to do that?
Perhaps it’s because of your sound stance on Conservative values and principles, or because of your sound spiritual beliefs that they do that. The world and the worldly (including dead-inside, nominal and or stiff religious Christians) have never been fans for those. If the world hates you, guess who it really hated first? So don’t take it so personal. If it’s due your your selfish words or stupid acts that they ditched you.. then please learn from that. Did they tell you multiple times that they hold to the same good stances as you do in those areas but then suddenly their choices totally betray their professions? There’s a name for that and you’re really not the first one to be blindsided. Christ was as well by those who played HIs friends.
“He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Isaiah 53:3
And yet Jesus chose to love His enemies. We can prayerfully do that too.. by His power. This agape love starts on two knees so to speak.
Jesus said, “This is My command to you: Love one another. If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.” John 15:18
Maybe you’ve been intentionally forgotten or abandoned this year and it’s due to their excuses regarding Covid 19—perhaps it was by your parents, once close friends, your spouse, or your children. Or maybe someone you loved and had high-hopes for died of Covid or some related complication? Liney and I just found out yesterday evening that our second son was killed by Covid 19. Yeah, it took almost five months for the authorities to figure that out. I guess there’s a backlog.
So, perhaps you feel that you’ve been abandoned by loved ones.. or even from God Himself. Is that the case, or at least it seems that way? Are you lonely during these holidays? What will you do about that, run farther away from God and His Church (your forever-family of real believers), or run closer to Him and them?
There are many people who feel estranged and alienated from God today. Some really bad things have happened in their lives and they wonder how a God of Love could even allow that.
Even the people who seem to have everything they want in life, with apparently zero lack.. they may still face a deep, nagging, inner loneliness.
We read in John five of this lone dude at the pool of Bethesda in Israel who was in a seemingly hopeless situation, but he wanted to hope again. He didn't want to be lonely, yet he'd been literally abandoned.
He wasn’t one of the outwardly beautiful, rich, or strong people of His day. He was neglected, ignored, uncared for and pretty much unable to help himself. What’s more, it would appear that he’d been in that type condition for many long, emotionally painful, weary years. Sure, can you imagine.. he must have felt forgotten and desperately lonely inside.
But then Jesus Christ came along and changed this man’s life for good. The forgotten man wasn't forgotten (by God) and he was never the same again. It’s a story that tells you and me how to change as well. We can turn, change and be longterm-changed for good if we cooperate with the Spirit. What did Christ do at the beginning with this man? Well, initially before this big transformation with a personal healing were delivered to this man, Jesus first asked him a very pointed question: "Do you want to be made well?"
What kind of question is that, Lord? Well, think about it.. many people really don’t want to be made well. Perhaps they like the Government hand-outs and other benefits that come from how they are.. or maybe there are other reasons too? Perhaps they get really used to being that way.. too used to it.
What if Jesus asked you something like that same question? Do you really deep-down want to be made well.. or whole by God? May I be so bold to ask you.. Is there something in you that needs a touch, a healing, restoration, or needs changing in your life?
What do you feel you really need to make you happy?
Freebee Gifts and Earthy Governments Don't Make it Go Away.
Loneliness Doesn't Go Away by Adding in Another Idol During a Holiday.. or With "a Fling", or With Another Shiny Thing or With an Affair. Nope, but Many Don’t.. Won't Believe This. Stuborn, Bullheaded, I was That Way. They Think It'll All Go Away.. that Way instead of His Way.
Jesus is God' the Father's Good Way for you and me.
"There is nothing new under the sun." Think about King Solomon a sec. He is the one who said that verse long ago. Remember when he went on a wild binge to personally experience every pleasure this world had to offer people. Solomon a party-animal lived in the fast lane and a luxurious palace, with servants, expansive gardens and everything that a King of his day could ever long for. Desires, He went after them. He had women at his beck n call and more wine n grub than a high-profile foodie could take in during a whole lifetime. He had it all, and yet.. he had nothing. He was lonely, empty and brokenhearted. Please ask for God's wisdom like he did! Wise old King Solomon summed it up this way: "Everything is meaningless!" (Eccl. 1:2)
The word for meaningless that Solomon voiced can be translated as emptiness, futility, meaninglessness, nothingness or simply a "bubble that bursts!" Is that a photograph of your life?
That is where Jesus (God the Son, fully God and fully man) comes in. King Solomon was raised up to have faith actually, but he abandoned a life of faith for a long time. Too long. He'd taken a long stride from His Master’s side. Lonely midlife crisis?.. you can ask him one day if you like. Then after realizing that this world system had nothing satisfyingly good to offer him, he simply returned to the Lord in the end. Great idea! You can turn, trust and come back to the Lord as well.. or you can do that coming to Him for the first time today. He forgive and gives second chances. He also gives free re-fills, believer.
We tend to think like empty ole Solomon did. We think we have all the things we want in this world to make us happy, and then we find ourselves like many lonely hurting celebrities find themselves: We’re searching (desperately), so sadly, so empty, so lonely, so down, and ultimately, completely unfulfilled with the lives we are living. Our own BEST choices have brought us to where we are -- we need a smarter Lord to save, to comfort, to provide for, to fellowship with, and to guide us daily.
Hey Sport, when the outlook ain’t so good, try the uplook!
Don’t wait another day! Read through the Bible prayerfully. It is full of broken, lonely, heartbroken people, but it is also full of hope, love and the Good News Message of Jesus Christ. I believe that through a relationship with Christ, you can find peace, comfort, fulfillment, contentment and an abundant life -- life everlasting. If you are feeling despondent enough to take your own life, please don’t act selfishly. Reach up to Him.
Do you want to be made well? On every level.. really? What do you live for.. what do you dream about or talk about the most? Is it about gaining that next house or car or computer game or vacation?
Maybe it’s an addiction you have to a certain vice or certain lifestyle that you are totally trapped in. Maybe it’s something you’ve tried to shake time and time again. Man, this is emotional. Or maybe it’s an old hatred, grudge, or resentment, that you’ve nurtured and nursed along over the months or years and it’s becoming more and more toxic with the passing of time. What is it with you? Got an idol to bow down to so to speak? Is it your spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend? Is it your boss or job?
Christ enter the scene and turned the course of this man’s life around forever, giving the man an ability to live a life free from loneliness and the power of sin. He could now walk in spiritual victory with JOY unspeakable and full of glory. He was forgiven and could now enjoy heart to heart fellowship with his Father God who made Him and has a good plan.
We too can live that life of victory—we can enjoy the ability to break old habits, old strongholds, old bondages and to forgive old fools who reject. Those who are so tactless and rude and repeatedly hurts others without often knowing it. We can let go of old resentments that they should get it but refuse to. Jesus is the friends that sticks closer than a brother or son.
I'm feelin' thankful today 12/21 for Christ's incarnation. The incarnation is when the one true God came down, took on human flesh here on earth. It happened and now since Jesus has been physically raised from the dead then guess what.. He is not merely some spirit floating around out there. He is fully human and understands what you and I are going through.
Not too long ago there was this Jewish man named Larry King. He was always on TV interviewing people, infact more people than I can even count. Well, Larry was once asked.. what is the one question you would love to ask and have answered by God? Yes, what would that question be, and Larry responded with: “God, do you have a son?”
Would that be your question too? God indeed as a Son and His name is Immanuel a.k.a. Jesus Christ who loves you and has a good plan.
What does Immanuel mean? ..and why this name, Immanuel?
How did Jesus bring joy to the world?
What’s the Identity of Jesus. Is the deity of Christ biblical? Did he have a last name?
If His name was Yeshua, why do we call Him Jesus?
Got some Jewish questions and about Jesus or Judaism?
What does it mean that Christ was despised and rejected of men (Isaiah 53:3)?
Got some questions about the Jesus Christ of the Bible? That’s the Person you and I want to know!
What does it mean that Jesus is God with us?
Is Jesus really God in the flesh? Why is that even important that Jesus is God in the flesh?
Why wasn’t Jesus named Immanuel by Mary and Joseph? If Immanuel (Emmanuel) was to be the name of the promised Messiah, why was His Name in that family “Jesus” instead of Immanuel? (Photos above by Sara Rolin and Kyle Johnson) Fish4souls.org
Now I have resurrection power living on the inside
You have given us freedom from all loneliness!
