Church today really spoke to me. The series on sermons that they just started relates to the various "season's of life." The idea is that as we move through life, things change in stages that we just have to roll with. Some things pop up more than once and other things for just a brief moment.
Today the "season" that we considered was that of loneliness. Given where I currently am in my life, this really drew me in because I have been feeling like I'm standing alone as the past few months. The pastor started by explaining that there are four causes for feeling lonely:
1. Change or Transition: Anytime you start a new leg of a journey, it's unfamiliar and seems like you're on your own.
2. Separation or Isolation: When you are physically away from loved ones you feel alone, but the hardest is when the people you love are near by but you can't seem to connect and close yourself off.
3. Opposition: People wanted to be accepted and often when you have to defend yourself, you feel like an outside and misunderstood.
4. Rejection or Abandonment: When the people that you have come to trust and rely on are not there for you (whether knowingly or not) it's hard to not feel deserted and alone.
Verses from 2 Timothy were used to show that Jesus and his Disciples experienced these causes for loneliness however they were able to persevere. When it comes down to it, everyone faces these challenges at some point in their life, however there are four ways to cope with the loneliness:
1. Utilize Your Time: Basically when life gives you lemons, make lemon-aid. You can sit around a mope about being by yourself, or you can go and be productive. Do things that make you comfortable and contributed something positive to your life.
2. Minimize Your Hurt: Do not dwell on how no one seems to be around and care. Resentment and bitterness doesn't help anything so you might as well not think about it and try to come up with solutions. Try and focus on those who are there for you, rather than those who are a disappointment.
3. Recognize God's Presence: Remember that even if everyone else in the world fell of the face of the planet, you still have God's love. Open your heart and you have His undying affection and be sure to give that the weight and appreciation it deserves when you're feeling lost and alone.
4. Emphasize Other's Needs: Take care of others. There are people out there that have problems and are lonely too. By helping them, you stop focusing on yourself and even have the chance of making a new connection with someone you might not have otherwise. Give yourself to others but be careful not to expect care in return: Only you can fill that void with love for yourself.
It was a great sermon and I realized that I just need to remind myself that God has a plan for me. I might not understand right now why I've been struggling to find work and people have left but it's a all part of the big picture. These challenges are just part of a rough winter that will soon bloom into a new beautiful spring with surprised to come!
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