The Path Out of LonelinessSample

Have you ever wondered what might be contributing to the perpetuating cycle of your loneliness?

It is the deepest desire of every human to be seen, to be known, to be loved, and to be wanted. As we have already established in day one of this reading plan, the result of sin in Genesis was separation and as a result, loneliness from God. If loneliness is not confronted and the tensions in our mind, body, and spirit are ignored, then something interesting happens.

We do whatever we can to be seen. As I say this, I get this mental picture of a toddler in the middle of a grocery store aisle throwing themselves on the ground because they didn’t get what they want, they’re kicking and screaming, and they’re making a scene. And maybe it’s even deeper than that, they have this need that they’re not able to communicate and so they’re trying their best to communicate their disappointment, their struggle, their sadness, or their anger.

I wonder if you can relate. A lot of times we don’t know how to put words to the feeling of loneliness or the feeling of being unseen.

Often when we are unseen, like this toddler, the desire to belong to something rises up within us and this desire becomes so great that we might do or say anything to be seen, to be known, to be loved, to be wanted. We become like that toddler in the grocery store and we act out in ways that are not normal for us. I want you to think about that for a second. The desire to be seen, to be known, to be wanted, to be loved is not bad. Actually, it’s the core of who we are.

But there is a better way. Like I stated in day two, we must confront this loneliness within us and realize that we need to take a step back and re-evaluate. That’s what I want you do to right now. Take a step back and re-evaluate. Is there anything that you’ve said yes to, anything that you’ve become a part of that fills that desire, that need to be seen. Maybe it’s not healthy. As we re-evaluate, we take a step back and we begin to take stock of the things that we’ve joined, that we’ve become a part of, that we say or talk about or do to fill that need. Again, your desire to be seen, to be known, to be wanted is not bad, but it should be drawing you to the arms of the Father, and not distracting you.

Loneliness can become that distraction. Loneliness can become that part of us that speaks those lies that we talked about yesterday. And so, as you take a step back and re-evaluate you loose the power of those lies about loneliness, and you begin to re-center back onto the Father.

Questions for Reflection:

1. In what ways are you struggling to communicate your desire to be seen, to be loved, to be known, and to be wanted?
2. Are there decisions or choices you’ve made that need to be changed or re-evaluated? Again, this is okay. Write these things down. Get them on paper. Something that you can see and re-evaluate on a daily basis.
3. Is there a church or a small group you can start going to, to begin to meet these desires in a community of believers, a community that is centered around Christ?