I'm Just a Guy: Who Feels Aloneنموونە

Loneliness and Lies

Isolation is the enemy of excellence.

Just today, I found myself sitting alone in the office after being stood up for multiple meetings. The reasons for their absences were legitimate—but instead of seeing the free time as an opportunity to refocus, my mind spiraled. Thoughts crept in: You're worthless. No one wants to spend time with you. You're a failure. A fraud.

Ever felt that way?

I’ve learned that once the negative thoughts start rolling in, they rarely stop at just one. One lie fuels another, and before I know it, there's a runaway train of despair that drags me deeper into isolation. The hard part? I can see the lies forming in real time—and yet still struggle to shut them down.

That’s why Jesus' words in John 8 are so grounding. He doesn't sugarcoat the enemy's tactics: Satan is a liar. Deception is his native language. When those shame-filled thoughts invade, we need to trace them back to their source—and call them what they are.

I found myself wondering: If Satan had a LinkedIn profile, how would he present himself? Probably something like this:

Visionary strategist with millennia of experience helping people unlock their truest potential...
Specializing in reframing limitations as opportunities and offering alternative paths to self-fulfillment...

Sound familiar? His lies don’t always sound wicked. They sound empowering. You’ll see versions of that language plastered across countless profiles and platforms today.

Now, let’s reframe his “About” section with truth drawn from John 8:

Disguised deceiver with a long track record of destruction. Expert in twisting truth just enough to sound good. Known for whispering half-truths, encouraging compromise, and repackaging rebellion as freedom. My offers sound empowering, but they’re poisoned at the core. I promise freedom and deliver slavery. I want your allegiance more than your attention—and if I can keep you distracted, bitter, puffed-up, or despairing… mission accomplished.

It occurs to me that the longer we are isolated, the more we are tempted to believe the lies that potentially fuel our anger or pride. In Satan's LinkedIn profile above, we get a glimpse into a version of that. Our goal as believers is to recognize that most of the language the evil one uses is an attempt to remake the world so it appears the way he wishes and not the truth that God desires that we walk in.

Recognizing the source of the lies we face is crucial. The enemy's strategy is subtle but persistent—if he can isolate us, he can discourage us. And if he can discourage us, he can derail us.

So here’s the filter I use: If a thought about myself contradicts God’s Word, I can be sure it came from the father of lies.
And when that happens, the best weapon I have is to speak the truth—out loud if necessary.

Your worth, identity, and value are not up for negotiation. They’ve already been established by the One who never lies.

Let truth lead the conversation today.

Reflection Questions:

1. What lies are you most tempted to believe when you're alone?
2. What truth from Scripture can counter today's biggest lie?