Loneliness

Loneliness

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING:- This is not necessarily a sermon designed for those that are single, because you can feel lonely in any circumstance, at any age, you can even feel loneliness when you are surrounded by people, in a relationship, or when you have many friends and acquaintances. Loneliness is the soul feeling isolated from meaningful human connections, feeling misunderstood, out of place, etc.

There was a study done in 2018 that surveyed 20,00 adults, 18 and up. This survey stated that many adults feel lonely, disconnected, left out, misunderstood and devoid of meaningful relationships. Understand this study was done in 2018 before COVID-19. Since then millions of people have been confined to their homes, unable to socialize like they were used to, unable to have contact with relationships they enjoyed like golf, sports, worship services and so on. Social distancing encourages people keep at least 6 feet from others. As a result, it’s quite possible that people are more lonely now than ever before.

Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation. Loneliness is also described as social pain a psychological mechanism which motivates individuals to seek social connections. It is often associated with an unwanted lack of connection and intimacy. Loneliness overlaps and yet is distinct from solitude. Solitude is simply the state of being apart from others, not everyone who experiences solitude feels lonely. As a subjective emotion, loneliness can be felt even when surrounded by other people; one who feels lonely or is lonely. The causes of loneliness varies. They include spiritual, social, mental, emotional, and environmental factors.

Monophobia, or the fear of being alone, is a catch-all term for several discrete fears. Some people are afraid of being apart from a person. Others have the fear of living alone, being home alone, or being in public by themselves.

Today I am going to deal with loneliness and show you in scripture that in Christ you are never alone or lonely.

PRAYER:

SCRIPTURES:- Genesis 2:18 “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him”. God said it is not good for man (mankind) to be alone so He created a help meet for him. So we have this natural desire in us to be connected to others.

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your cares upon Him for he careth for you”.

I ask the question - Have you ever found yourself feeling lonely? trapped? Frustrated? Full of anxiety? Discouraged? Short tempered? I am sure especially over the past few months there has been some of this feeling of loneliness by nearly everyone. However, so many times we struggle trying to carry a very heavy load all by ourselves. I know that I do but the fact is we were never meant to carry the load by ourselves. Even Jesus had help from Simon of Cyrene in carrying the cross up Golgotha’s hill.

Psychologists state that human beings have a fundamental need for inclusion in group life and for close relationships. We seem to function best when this social need is met and it is easier to stay motivated, to meet the varied challenges of life. When the need for inclusion is non-existent, we fall apart mentally, spiritually, and even physically.

We should understand first that there are different types of loneliness.

First: - Social loneliness: the most common type. You could be feeling socially lonely right now when you are stuck in your home and cannot see your friends or family. You can also experience it when you lack social connections or activities.

Second: - Emotional loneliness: does not necessarily involve being alone or lacking connections. You could have friends and family but feel emotionally disconnected from them. It comes from a lack of understanding and the inability to relate to those around you.

Third: - Intellectual loneliness: the inability to discuss things that feel important and interesting to you with other people. Similarly to emotional loneliness, it can come from a lack of understanding – but in an intellectual sense of it. A lack of intellectually compatible or like-minded individuals to share your interests and views with.

Fourth: - This is the most dangerous of all the different types - Spiritual loneliness: doesn’t come from a lack of social or emotional connections. An overall feeling of detachment from everyone and belonging nowhere. Feeling that your life is incomplete and lacks meaning. A vague sense of longing, but you cannot say what or who you long for. This feeling haunts you for a lifetime. You may not experience it every day, but you know it is always there and sooner or later, it will show up again. It is a void that can only be filled by the unfailing Love of Christ.