Today we want to answer the question, what does the Bible say about loneliness?
We want to show you the truth about how alone we really are, or if it is true that at some point we have been.
But first, let’s start by defining what solitude means in the Bible.
What does loneliness mean in the bible?
We have to understand that the Holy Bible divides loneliness into two important points, which we will discuss later.
The first is what we know as loneliness, it is that moment where you have no one to support you, both emotionally and physically, in a very general term.
In the second we have a much more drastic parallelism, which can be compared to an emotion of sadness or melancholy, which can be generated by the momentary lack of someone.
You may think that the two terms are very similar, but the reality is that they are not at all.
The first is loneliness when you don’t have another human being nearby, and the second is when someone important to you is not there, and it makes you sad.
That is the difference.
Now we are going to talk about several principles related to what the Bible says about loneliness.
#1 Loneliness is an opportunity to talk to God
The first point of what the Bible says about loneliness is that it is a perfect opportunity to strengthen our faith.
It is a highly useful tool to improve a direct relationship with God, and it is the opportunity to meditate, pray and read his word.
This is what the Bible tells us about solitude and meditation:
“When it was already day, he went out and went to a deserted place, and the crowds were looking for him. They came to him and stopped him from leaving their side.”
Luke 4:42
As we can see, loneliness is not always bad, as human beings it is necessary to spend time alone with our heavenly father, but also to have a moment alone to talk with ourselves.
#2 In tough times, it may be best to be alone with God
Mr. Jesus used his solitude as a moment of communication and chat with his father.
Something interesting is that Jesus not only did it in the easy or devotional moments, he also did it when the trials came to his life.
When Jesus was about to be arrested to start his crucifixion, he decided to go up a mountain, to be alone with his father and to think about everything that would come for him.
We find this story in the book John.
Now I want to share with you an additional biblical text:
As Jesus understood that they were going to come to take him by force and make him king, he withdrew back to the mountain, alone.
John 6:15
What the Bible says about loneliness is that it is not always a bad thing, sometimes it is rather a tool to obtain strength from our heavenly father.
#3 We feel alone when we turn away from God
When we decide to distance ourselves from the presence of our God, we cause ourselves total loneliness.
It is a different and very dangerous solitude.
When you decide to walk away and be alone without God, you are closing the doors to the Lord in your life, that is why it is one of the most dangerous.
The creator does not force anyone to be by his side, if your desire is to go through life alone without a guide, he will not force you to stay by his side.
This happened to the people of Israel, they decided to move away from the Lord’s side, and the Bible tells us the following about this story:
But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel did not want me.
That is why I gave them over to the hardness of their hearts, and they walked according to their own counsel.
Psalms 81:11-12
The people decided to walk alone and although the Lord wanted to continue taking care of them, I respect his decision, and they had to assume the consequences.
#4 Disobedience to God causes us loneliness
We also have another story about deciding to be alone and far from God, in this case, it is that of a king who, by not obeying the Lord, was left in total solitude.
That’s right, we are talking about King Saul, and this is what the Bible tells us about this character:
When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart was greatly troubled.
And Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD answered him neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
1 Samuel 28:5-6
King Saul may not have told the lord, leave me alone, I want to get away from you, but because of his decisions and his change of heart, it is more than enough to realize that he did not want him.
But now, faced with a test after making a decision, he sought out the lord, whom he asked to leave him alone, for help, but received no response.
You are the only one who can decide if you want to be alone in your walk, or you want to be accompanied by your father of love.
#5 God never leaves us totally alone
The most beautiful thing about the Bible and our God is that it reminds us that no matter what happens we will never be alone.
The Lord in his word tells us:
Though my father and mother leave me, Yet the LORD will pick me up.
Psalms 27:10
Although everyone moves away from our side, we will never be alone, the Lord will always be guiding your steps, being your support in the face of difficulty, holding your hand in every decision. This is the second way the Bible says about loneliness.
Loneliness is something that as long as we believe in the Lord we will never experience, no matter if your friends or your family move away from your side, the Lord Jesus will always be for you.
Conclusion
Let us never forget what the Bible says about loneliness, let us never forget that as long as we have Christ by our side, humanly we will never be alone.
That loneliness is good as long as we seek the company of the Lord Jesus.
If at any time you feel alone and that causes you concern, I want to share this book called Finding God in My Loneliness by Lydia Brownback.
Also, if you want to strengthen your faith and allow the Lord to direct your life, I also share this interesting writing on Trusting God In Difficult Times.
