Lonely? you’re not alone
While preparing for our recent series on the “one anothers,” it seemed every article I read, every book I picked up, and every podcast I heard mentioned the growing epidemic of loneliness in America. You do not have to be a social scientist or a researcher to know that people are increasingly lonely and discouraged. Loneliness and discouragement are unfortunate consequences of living in a fallen world, but this does not mean we have to allow these two feelings to dominate our lives and cause despair.
Since various types of suffering are part of humanity’s experience, Paul encourages Christians to continually “encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). In today’s culture, too many Christians are living isolated from the body of Christ. Isolation is fertile ground for loneliness and discouragement. Satan knows this to be true and uses seclusion to draw us away from Christ and His church.
If we quit having consistent interaction with other Christians, we eventually forget how to make and maintain close friendships. Without the encouraging support of friends, we are vulnerable to feeling alone and unraveling when discouragement hits. Admittedly, relationships take work. But they are worth it.
As I wrote in When Flaming Arrows Fly, “If you’re feeling discouraged, afraid, overwhelmed, or defeated right now, please don’t throw your hands up in despair and quit. There are at least two reasons to stay faithful in the fight against evil. One, you are not alone. All over the globe, there are scores of faithful Christians facing the same spiritual attacks. And two, there is hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. You can have joy, courage, peace, and consistent spiritual growth in this fallen world.”
In Romans 15:4-5, Paul offers reassuring words when he writes, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.”
In this text, Paul urges Christians to find endurance and encouragement in two specific sources:
1. The Scriptures (v. 4): God has provided His word for our instruction. It is through the encouragement found in the Scriptures that we find endurance in times of trial and hope when facing the uncertainties of the future. When Paul penned these words, the Hebrew Scriptures were undoubtedly on the forefront of his mind. I don’t know about you, but I find great encouragement in the Old Testament where we read about men and women who endured hardship beyond what we can imagine and yet remained hopeful. Men like Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, and Elijah did not enjoy problem-free circumstances, but they faithfully endured their hardships. Women like Hannah, Deborah, Esther, and Ruth serve as tremendous examples of endurance and hope during challenging times. These faithful women persevered even when life was not comfortable or easy. God did not give us His word to entertain us; He gave it for our instruction and encouragement. In the promises of God’s word, we find enduring encouragement for today and lasting hope for tomorrow.
2. God (v. 5): God is the supreme source of endurance, encouragement, and hope. While we all need human relationships to spiritually flourish, God is the one from whom we ultimately draw strength and encouragement. It is in God that we find tenacious hope that endures through every trial and hardship. Our heavenly Father cares about our lives and desires for us to trust in Him even in the valleys of life. Concerning the preeminence of God’s sovereign care, David writes, “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in” (Psalm 27:10). Despite knowing God cares for us, we can often relate to Psalm 42:5, which asks, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation.” Notice, Psalm 42:5 begins with a seemingly desperate question, but ends on a confident declaration of God’s power to provide hope, even when life seems hopeless. Our souls may often be downcast, but there is never a reason to lose hope in our awesome God. I particularly find Romans 15:13 reassuring; Paul writes, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Those words are filled with glorious confidence. In this verse, Paul encourages the Roman Christians to overflow with hope that can only be found in God. As we hope in God, we can experience the joy, peace, unity, and harmony that God desires for us. Do not miss the weight of Paul’s argument; through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can enjoy abounding hope.
Loneliness and discouragement may dominate the cultural narrative, but as Christians we have an enduring reason to abound in joy, peace, harmony, and hope. God does not intend for His people to drown in a sea of loneliness, discouragement, and hopelessness. Through personal faith in Jesus, we can find lasting encouragement and enjoy the blessings of Christian fellowship. Drawing close to God and fostering intimate friendships will push back against the darkness of loneliness and discouragement. By God’s marvelous grace, we also have God’s inspired word as a source of comfort, encouragement, and hope. It is in our almighty God that we find persistent strength to endure, the fulfilling communion to be comforted, and relentless peace to be hopeful.