Lonely People – Part 1 – Morning Devotions

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(Lonely People – Part 2 – Morning Devotions)

We may choose to be alone. Perhaps we’re shy or we’ve got fears that produced loneliness, and we may have gone through the death of a loved one. There could be drug or alcohol addictions that leave us very lonely. We could, in fact, be in a marriage or a relationship that’s lacking love and respect. Or there’s an illness that causes us to feel lonely. So whatever the reason behind being lonely, I would say that if that’s you, you’re  not alone because there are many lonely people today. In fact, despite this electronic controlled age that we live in,

the numbers are increasing. Lonely people are in pretty well every profession and every economic level, and every age group is no respecter of persons. Uh, some marriages foster loneliness because one of the partners don’t share anything with their partner, and we could move, actually geographically move from one location to another.

And that’s what’s happening in this generation more than, say, a generation earlier. And because of that, there’s no longer a support system that’s in place for family or friends. No wonder it was Mother Teresa who said that loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted as the most terrible poverty.

Dr. Leonard Zonen’s a psychiatrist and author, and he said that loneliness is mankind’s biggest problem. It’s the major reason, he said, behind the many and varied symptoms that I see in the people who present themselves to me day after day.

So how do you actually define loneliness? It’s it’s not being alone, And we could call that solitude. It’s really this feeling of something else. Uh, let me explain. A young man headed from the department store to do some shopping, and he noticed an old man sipping a cup of coffee in the snack area. So he thought, Well, this man looks lonely, so he decided to pull up a chair next to him and wished him a good morning. And

and the old man looked up and said, You’re the first person who said good morning to me in years And so they had a nice talk and, uh, you know, he said, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go now. The younger man said, Look, I’ll shake your hand. And happily, the older man offered his hand. I can’t remember, he said the last time that I shook hands with anyone.

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Now that, to me, is the real stuff of life. Unfortunately, isn’t it lonely people? No contact, no shaking of the hands. Hospital chaplain was talking with a patient. One day we will you be having visitors while you’re here? I’m afraid not, said the patient. You see, I don’t have a friend in the whole world. They say that I was nearly dead when I came here

and he said, Good thing I dialled for help When I did So the chaplain was concerned. Is there anyone who knows? You know, he said, I’m telling you the truth. I had my phone put in hoping that somebody would call a wrong number, and for a few moments I thought that someone, someone would actually be thinking about me. But my phone never rings, and the chaplain became quite emotional thinking how very sad.

It was almost a painful experience, too painful to talk about, and yet it is very sad. My guess is that there are lonely people all around. And if you’re lonely this morning, let me say that God can help you. Even King David from the Bible felt lonely in Psalm 142:4. He was David. He was hiding in a cave. Actually, his days were numbered. He thought people were out to get him and he was lonely. He cried out to God for help and he said, Really? No one understands. No one cares. The truth is that God helps us in our loneliness. Another, Psalm 31 says, “I trust you, Lord. I claim you as my god. My life is in your hands.”

The scriptures and the New Testament say, “draw close to God and God will draw close to you” – (James 4:7-10).

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, in the weariness and loneliness of daily life we come to you. We know that we can find our true rest in you. Slow us down, Lord, to realise that peace is really all we need. And that’s found in you, amen.