Unhooked: Holy in a Hookup WorldNäide

Day 30: Loneliness

Read

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. –Matthew 6:33

Connect

When were you last lonely?

In a season of singleness, loneliness isn’t unusual. It especially stings when our circumstances convince us that we’re alone.

Like when you’re the only one at the wedding without a date.

Or when everybody has plans for the weekend—except you.

Or when you’re in the coffee shop for hours and nobody says hello.

Loneliness produces an ache. A longing. When you feel it, toward what or whom do you turn?

The ache is real, yes. And it is painful. But the only one who can soothe it is God—who never leaves you. And yes, there is an emptiness in feeling lonely, too. But only God can fill it.

It is easy in a hookup world to first seek relationships or to blame singleness for how alone you feel. But being single isn’t the source of feeling alone. We feel alone when our primary focus has shifted to anything other than God.

If what we seek first when we’re lonely is relationships, we risk using people—we’re hoping to get from them what only God can give.

But when we seek God first, He fills us—with peace, with security, and with love.

And that equips us to give love when we enter into relationships, instead of trying to take it.

Allow God to fill you with His peace, security, and love now. He's waiting for you!

Pray

Even though sometimes I feel lonely, I know that I’m never alone—that You, Lord, are always with me. Thank You for never leaving me. I am ready to receive Your peace.

Reflect

In your loneliness, what or whom do you seek first? When have you felt most alone? What did you think might make you feel less alone but didn’t?