Help Wanted: Lonlieness

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QOTW

Has anyone dreamed the same dream more than once? If so, are there any that you’d like to share with the group?

Introduction

Today we’ll continue to learn from the life of Joseph in the Old Testament.

Our focus will be on how God helps us overcome loneliness.

Feelings of loneliness are something all of us have experienced in different ways.

I’m sure everyone here has wrestled with what to do when facing loneliness. Let’s dive in.

Sermon Illustration: Chain Link Tag

Today we’ll be playing a game that’s a twist on the idea of overcoming loneliness. For our activity today, we’re going to play tag. But unlike a regular game of tag, the person who’s It won’t be alone. Instead, a group will link arms to form a chain. Then, the It chain will chase down everyone who is trying to avoid being tagged.

If you get tagged, you’ll join the It chain until every student has been added. The It chain can’t be broken. If the group unlinks their arms, the chase stops until everyone who’s It rejoins as a chain.

Did it become easier to tag others when more people were added to the It chain? Why or why not?

Was it easier to avoid being tagged as the chain grew bigger or not? Why do you think that is?

Those who were It worked together as a group toward a goal.

But those being chased played alone. When you were being chased, you may have felt like everyone was against you.

This is similar to how we might sometimes feel in life. We may feel like we’re all alone and have no one to help. Other times we may feel forgotten and left out, as if everyone is against us. Let’s watch the video and then discover what God’s Word has to say about loneliness.

Sermon

So we are catching up with Joseph.

Kind of a show off

Brothers hate him and sell him to slavery

Potifer’s wife tries to trap Joesph

Joseph ends up in prison

How do you imagine Joseph felt being in prison and separated from his family?

Don’t Allow Your Situation to Keep You from Making a Difference

We might assume that being separated from family and friends like Joseph was automatically means we’re alone.

But feeling lonely and being alone are two different things.

Loneliness is a feeling that we all experience in different ways sometimes.

But our feelings aren’t always the same as facts.

Let’s read about how Joseph handled his loneliness.

Genesis 40:1–8 (NIV)

Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them.

After they had been in custody for some time, each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.

When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”

“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

In spite of Joseph’s situation, we can tell from verse 8 that he kept God in perspective.

While some people would let injustice and prison drive them away from God, Joseph seemed to hold on to Him.

Because Joseph knew God, he was in a unique position when the chief cupbearer and chief baker had dreams that no one else could interpret.

But Joseph still had to choose to help them.

Keep Seeking God and Stay the Course

With God’s Spirit in us, we’re always equipped to be used by Him, even when we’re in lonely or challenging circumstances.

Genesis 40:9–19 (NIV)

So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.”

“This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”

When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread. In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

“This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and impale your body on a pole. And the birds will eat away your flesh.”

Why do you think Joseph was able to interpret the dreams so easily?

Do you find it easier or more difficult to hear from God when you feel alone or discouraged? Why?

Joseph was faithful to God. He was willing to be used by God to interpret the dreams, even in his unjust imprisonment.

And he did it without having the assurance that he would get anything in return.

That sounds like someone committed to God’s work regardless of how he feels.

You Can Trust God Even When You Feel Forgotten

Genesis 40:20–23 (NIV)

Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand—but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.

The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

Why does the enemy seem to use loneliness and rejection so often against people?

Our enemy, the devil, wants to get our eyes off of God and others, and make us feel like we’re all alone.

Joseph was probably tempted to feel this way.

But he trusted God’s plan even though he was alone in prison.

God had given Joseph dreams earlier in his life. Joseph had to keep trusting in God’s perfect timing to see those dreams become true.

God Helps us overcome loneliness

Loneliness is something many of us are familiar with, especially when we go through difficult circumstances.

Remember, loneliness is a feeling. Feelings are temporary. They come and go.

The truth is, we’re never alone when we know God.

He never leaves us, no matter what.

Even when we go through difficult times, we can trust Him just like Joseph did.

God has a perfect track record. He is faithful!

We have to learn to trust God even when things get difficult and we feel lonely or rejected. He will help us overcome!

Ending

Take some time to end in prayer

As you reflect tonight, ask God to help you remember that He is with you when you face loneliness.

Feelings are real, but they aren’t the only truth. Our feelings will change, but God never changes. His presence is always with you. In fact, when you know Jesus, His Spirit is within you. What a cool truth to remember!

God made us with emotions, so there’s nothing wrong with feeling them.

The challenge comes when we let emotions steer our life instead of God. We can overcome anything we face if we live for Him! Next time you feel lonely, take time to be alone with God. This is a good exercise for turning loneliness into an opportunity to grow closer to our God.

Conclusion

Remember that all of us experience emotions in life, even loneliness. Emotions are not evil, but if we let them go unchecked, they can keep us from God’s best for our life. Don’t forget that the devil, our enemy, will try to make us feel isolated, lonely, and depressed. These things are not from God. He didn’t create us to be victims; He makes us victorious. Because of Jesus, there is nothing we could ever face that is too big for God to help us get through! We are never alone. God has a plan for our life, and we can trust Him in any circumstance.

Don’t forget about the personal devotions provided for you on the app. These devotions will help you as you grow in your daily walk with Jesus. Also, let them be a reminder this week that they are something you’re not doing alone; you’re doing them as an important part of this community. I’m looking forward to seeing you next time!