Thinking Biblically About Loneliness: A 5-Day Reading Planಮಾದರಿ

Day 5: Effective Strategies for Overcoming Loneliness

Loneliness is a painful yet revealing emotion that can guide us to deeper self-awareness, stronger relationships, and a renewed connection with God, if we approach it with openness and purpose. It’s like a toothache. The toothache itself is bad. But many of us would never go to the dentist to have our bad tooth treated, if not for the unbearable pain it brings! So it is with loneliness: a constant, unstoppable feeling of loneliness draws our attention to the fact that there is something amiss in our relationships with ourselves, other people, or God.

By nature, humans were not created for loneliness, but for unity and community with themselves, God, and other people. The absence of such unity brings torment and pain. Pain, which can and should be treated. Yet, because people perceive the same painful circumstances in different ways, and since the causes of loneliness are different, there is no one single solution for loneliness. Effective strategies that deal with the causes of loneliness can include:

• solitude,
• personal prayer of reflection and meditation on Scripture,
• and identification and change of our misconceptions and self-destructive behaviors.

The value and significance of solitude as a recreational resource can hardly be overestimated for overcoming loneliness and for better self-knowledge. It includes facing loneliness and requires our willingness to experience fear, anger, agony, and frustration. As we learn to enjoy our own company, we are more able to understand the causes of our loneliness and cope with it.

Identifying and changing our misconceptions and self-destructive behavior is an important condition for overcoming our loneliness. The way we answer the question “Who are we?” is key. It defines our purpose, way of thinking, feelings, and behavior. We cannot achieve our goals unless we know who we are. In the modern world, there are lots of people who are confused about their identity. Christian identity restored in line with Scripture, in Christ, undoubtedly leads to a healthier view of ourselves and others, safer attachments, and healthier relationships. It brings us closer to overcoming our loneliness.