Can a Christian really be lonely? The noted evangelist Billy Graham once said that through his many years of contact with people all over the world, in his opinion, loneliness is the greatest problem facing mankind. Theoretically we never should be lonely because Jesus Christ, the Friend above all friends, said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). He is living within us and we have resources to draw upon that non-Christians know nothing about.
Second, we have a family identity, since we have been “born again” into the family of God and are his children with brothers and sisters in Christ. Yet, Christians do struggle with feeling alone. In my own quest to escape loneliness, I have acquired a few important ground rules that I work at continually:
- Instead of searching for people whom you can trust, focus entirely on God, who alone is trustworthy. In doing so, you stop expecting more from human beings than they can supply.
- Take time daily to be alone with God, regardless of pressures or schedules. Pray about every problem, whether large of small. The Bible says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
- Learn to say no. If you have a tendency to be a “workaholic” (meaning that your only pleasure in life is your work), admit it and begin to deal with is. Rid your life of nonessential activities that rob you of time with God, time with family, involvement in church, and necessary recreation.
- Instead of constantly dwelling on your own problems, reach out to someone else in simple friendship. You may receive something far greater than what you give.
Even though you may still become lonely, Jesus is the source of all you need.
Nicky Cruz, internationally known evangelist and prolific author, turned to Jesus Christ from a life of violence and crime after meeting David Wilkerson in New York City in 1958. The story of his dramatic conversion was told first in The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson and then later in his own best-selling book Run, Baby, Run.