Isolation and Loneliness

Loneliness is an absolute epidemic in our world today, especially with Covid-19 going around for a second time. We scroll through our feeds and feel even lonelier. With the way people have treated us in the past, we may even get tired of trying to get to know new people. It’s easier to go through our lives alone than to try to make new friends who might hurt us. People are complicated. You are complicated. But you need to know your connection to others is directly connected to Christ. John 20:19 talks about the night that Jesus came back after the crucifixion. All of the disciples had scattered out of fear after Jesus was arrested and only John was there to witness the crucifixion. They thought that it was every man for himself and for about 24 hours, we have no idea where Jesus’ disciples were. For some reason, after Jesus’ death, they all came back together and that’s when Jesus came in among them and showed them his hands and side. Why did they all come back together?

Just like the disciples, you were not meant to do this alone. You were created for relationship. You were meant to have fellowship with others. The Jews thought that Jesus was going to lead them on a rebellion against the Roman oppressors even though Jesus told them on multiple occasions that that was not He was here to do. What drew them back together after the crucifixion? Friendship is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us but we don’t know how to use it most of the time. The wrong people can absolutely ruin your life. Then there are the people who cheer for you and root for you can absolutely make a huge impact in your life when you’re consumed by fear. Connection with the right people can help you do what God has called you to do.

When you feel afraid and when you’re lacking joy in your life, you need to check your connection to Christ. God didn’t mean for you to go through this life alone. You were meant to have connection with God and others. Your connection with others can only be as stable as your relationship with Christ. Everyone in the Bible had pairs; Paul and Silas, Moses and Aaron, David and Jonathan, but everyone spent some time alone with God first before they were paired up. Sometimes He has to bring you into a period of solitude where you can find your true source: God.

What seems like isolation is a much-needed period of solitude. Sometimes there are even periods of isolation we bring upon ourselves. Nothing will draw you into isolation faster than shame. Don’t let your shame keep you away from the people God has placed in your life. If you have the right people in your life, you should feel less shame instead of more. Shame only grows so that you experience more isolation and does not come from God. What if Peter had allowed his shame to keep him from coming back to the place where he belonged? True belonging and self worth come from your Heavenly Father. After coming out of isolation, the next step is to get back around the right people. When you’re connected to the right people you have a place to be connected. Friendships are formed, not found. They take time. You spend time talking, time laughing and time having hard conversations. Your faith grows when you’re around the right people.

When you align yourself with the people that God has placed in your path, your faith grows. You have to keep getting back to the place where your faith was first connected. Hebrews 10:23-25 says: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” We cannot give up meeting together and having fellowship with one another. There is nothing like gathering with other people who are believers in Christ. We have got to get back to a place where we look people in the eyes and not through feeds. Together, we stand united and divided we fall.