“I’m lonely,” wrote Augusten Burroughs in one of his edgy memoirs. “And I’m lonely in some horribly deep way and for a flash of an instant, I can see just how lonely, and how deep this feeling runs.” I’ve seen Burroughs’ quote shared multiple times on social media. Clearly, he’s expressed a feeling many of us share.
Loneliness can be debilitating. The writer of Ecclesiastes states this with honesty: Someone who is alone finds life’s difficulties harder to manage (Ecclesiastes 4:10), is more vulnerable to abuse (Ecclesiastes 4:12), and can feel that his or her life is meaningless (Ecclesiastes 4:7-8). While having a few friends is best (Ecclesiastes 4:12), just one friend can make a difference. Ecclesiastes puts this beautifully: “Two people lying close together can keep each other warm” (Ecclesiastes 4:11).
One of the most touching examples of this I’ve heard is about a woman I’ll call Erica. She was in the depths of depression, feeling isolated and lonely. But she had a friend named Emily. When Erica needed to cry, Emily didn’t stop the tears. When Erica needed to scream, Emily didn’t quiet her down. When Erica needed hope, Emily was ready with an encouraging word.
At her darkest moment, Erica lay curled up on an armchair one afternoon. She’d lost hope, and Emily had no words left. So Emily did the best thing she could do—she climbed into that armchair and hugged her friend. Erica drifted off to sleep. Then Emily did too. And that’s how they stayed for the next two hours—two friends embraced in warm silence. Seven years later, Erica remembers that hug more than anything else.
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed” (Ecclesiastes 4:9). And they can also help quell the deep loneliness many of us feel.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Samuel 25:1-42
More:
Read Proverbs 17:17 and consider what it means to be a true friend to someone who is lonely.
Next:
Think of a time when a friend or family member was there for you. What did they do? How can you bring God’s love and compassion to a friend today?
Gary Shultz on April 1, 2017 at 6:01 am
Hi Sheridan: You often take challenging subjects to shows us the hurts of many peoples. I am stalled some times to respond to some of the situations. That’s why I like ODJ, it makes me think, it makes me move from a place that is removed from the circumstance of the people you speak about. After years of enjoying God’s presence and grace to me, it is difficult to imagine that kind of emptiness. I say that as humbly as possible, because I know it was the hand of God that brought light, that brought hope, that took loneliness away. Yes, you are correct we need to be available to and for those who are lonely and those that hurt. Yes, words may not be needed, but a presence is required. We don’t always have to understand, or even know much about the hurt, but we have light and warmth. May we be willing and ready to respond to those in need. Thanks Sheridan
Sheridan Voysey on April 2, 2017 at 2:42 am
Thanks Gary. I love the way you seek to empathise with people and situations you may not be personally familiar with. That’s Christlikeness in action right there.
hsnpoor on April 1, 2017 at 12:42 pm
Both of my parents are deceased, I am an only child, I have no children of my own and my spouse is deceased. I have 8 God-daughters ranging in age from 1-year, on the 27th of this month, to the eldest who turns 47 today. Even though I am an only child, I have enough cousins to sink a small battleship and I count several of them in that friend circle. The Lord has blessed me to be super-abundantly wealthy in friends; really good, genuine and generous friends. Yes, there are times that I’m lonely, but I realize that, like most things in life, is actually a choice. I don’t have to be because I can call a friend. But, a much better alternative and the one that I prefer, during those lonely times, is to think about and reach out to someone who could use a friend. Perhaps that’s how I became blessed with such an abundance of wonderful friends that populate the landscape of my life? Thank you LORD for your grace and your mercy in this area of my life. I’m grateful, grateful, grateful!
Monica Brands on April 1, 2017 at 6:53 pm
This is beautiful, thanks for sharing.
Sheridan Voysey on April 2, 2017 at 2:43 am
Yes! Use what sense of loneliness you feel to fuel service to others. Love it. Thanks for sharing this.
hsnpoor on April 1, 2017 at 12:45 pm
Both of my parents are deceased, I am an only child, I have no children of my own and my spouse is deceased. I have 8 God-daughters ranging in age from 1-year, on the 27th of this month, to the eldest who turns 47 today. Even though I am an only child, I have enough cousins to sink a small battleship and I count several of them in that friend circle. The Lord has blessed me to be super-abundantly wealthy in friends; really good, genuine and generous friends. Yes, there are times that I’m lonely, but I realize that, like most things in life, is actually a choice. I don’t have to be because I can call a friend. But, a much better alternative and the one that I prefer, during those lonely times, is to think about and reach out to someone who could use a friend. Perhaps that’s how I became blessed with such an abundance of wonderful friends that populate the landscape of my life? Thank you LORD for your grace and your mercy in this area of my life. I’m grateful, grateful, grateful! I’m having trouble getting this comment submitted. Please forgive me if it comes through twice…..