Defeating Loneliness

Loneliness in America is widespread — and it's a public health problem. By the numbers: More than 1 in 3 Americans are lonely, per a Harvard study. That rises to 61% when looking at younger people, and 51% among mothers with young kids.

“If I thought about it before I experienced it, you’d think about it as ...not having anyone around you, that you’re literally alone. But, the experience is one where you can be surrounded by people, even people who care about you and still feel like there’s no one.” Pippa

It is said that we are the most connected generation ever - yet the most disconnect from each other.

No - Personal - Relationship.

We know that loneliness often leads to depression, feelings of being disconnected, and sometimes leads to thoughts or actions of suicide.

Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the US

46,000 people died in 2020 from suicide

Even more shocking for some is the amount of teens and young adults that take their own life.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death of young people between the ages of 15 and 24. Most reported an overwhelming feeling on loneliness prior to taking their life.

5,000 young people complete suicide in the U.S. each year.

Each year, there are approximately 10 youth suicides for every 100,000 youth.

Each day, there are approximately 12 youth suicides.

Every 2 hours and 11 minutes, a person under the age of 25 completes suicide.

In the past 60 years, the suicide rate has quadrupled for males 15 to 24 years old, and has doubled for females of the same age.

For every completed suicide by youth, it is estimated that 100 to 200 attempts are made.

with that said about young persons - more and more senior adults are looking to assisted suicide as a means to end life on their own terms - stating relational disconnect from family and not wanting to be a burden.

The weight of the love of a spouse, loss one, mounting medical concerns, and less time surrounded by loved ones adds to the overwhelming feeling of loneliness in our senior population.

The median age group is not left out - the complex struggles of building a career, balancing family life, social and professional pressure all add up to one of the loneliest generations to date -

Some of these issues stem from one sole issue: LONELINESS.

So let’s dive in to this topic today - remembering that one of our chore values is: YOU CAN’T DO LIFE ALONE!

We have one source of information that we can look to with hope and promise. What the world and social culture offer us is fleeting and will pass away - but the word of God endures for ever. Let’s look.

Loneliness in the Bible.

Because loneliness is part of the human condition, it is not surprising that several persons in the Bible faced loneliness. This is not a new challenge.

Elijah : 1 Kings 19:1-12

1 Kings 19:1–12 NKJV

1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” 5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Elijah was depressed and feeling alone.

He had just witness and been a part of a great move of God

Then things shifted - he heard the jezabel was after him and he retreated : left his friends : and ran into the wilderness.

When fulfilling your calling -opposition- can cause loneliness

We also see, what has now been studied - that Elijah’s feeling of loneliness made him suicidal - Verse 4

Elijah felt like he was all alone - he was the only one doing what was right yet he still faced this witch Jezabel.

God has not left us alone - see verse 12

God is still speaking to each of us here today. We just need to listen.

God reminds Elijah that what he has done and is doing matters - God told him to get back to it - Verse 18

We all need encouragement.

2. Paul experienced loneliness -

2 Timothy 4:16 NKJV

16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.

Paul is telling Timothy of his feelings of loneliness in the ministry of the gospel.

Sometimes when you are doing what God has called you to - it gets lonely. BUT

We can’t do life alone.

2 Timothy 4:17 NKJV

17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

When it seems you are all alone - remember that the Lord is with you. God will strengthen you.

God will deliver you from danger. (even the thoughts of self harm, anxiety, and emotional distress)

I want you to listen closely to what I am about to say: God is able to lift you above emotional distress and mental illness BUT God also intends for each of us to get the help we need: Medical, Psychological, Mental Health Counseling, Medication, and so on. It is OK to need professional help.

The church has long done persons with mental health issues an injustice by telling them that their faith is not strong enough and that is their issue - you can have strong faith and still struggle with these things and admitting you need help is the first step in a direction of faith.

I am not telling you that God cannot do it alone- but I am telling you that even jesus had a doctor on his team - and jesus could raise the dead.

Get the help you need and allow others to help you.

3.Jesus also appears to have dealt with loneliness (I am not better then Jesus)

As this is the Lenten Season - we remember Jesus and the events leading to the cross and resurrection.

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

This is my plea to you today that if you have not accepted Christ as your savior, do it today. You must simply believe that - Christ died for you sins, was buried, and rose again. After that - you are to be baptized.

Jesus felt all of the emotions that we did - it is known theologically as the hypostatic union.

Hypostatic Union - is the mysterious joining of the divine and the human in the one person of Jesus.”

Jesus being all man and all God - John 1:1-4

John 1:1–4 NKJV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:14 NKJV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 1:3 (NKJV)

3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

God in the flesh, Jesus - felt what we feel in loneliness.

Matthew 26:36–46 NKJV

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

Verese 40-43 show that Jesus wanted his friends near him to pray with him, to watch with him and yet, they left him alone and slept.

It was the importance of presence. He wanted them close by.

Take time to share time with others.

Jesus also felt loneliness on the cross. Matt 27:46

Matthew 27:46 NKJV

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Jesus felt forsaken.

We sometimes feel forsaken. and in 2023 it may feel like

waiting on the text back, call back, card, or communication.

I am so happy that our deacons and others are out leading home prayers with people and taking time with them.

But you can do the same. Take time this week to check in on someone - sometimes a simple text will make all the difference in the world.

4. The Person that most likely came to your mind First: DAVID.

Can we just admit that David’s life was a roller coaster?

from Killing the giant to adultery, and everything in-between. Study the life of David and you will find the whole spectrum of emotional distress.

I say that to assure you that we believe the word of God as true and without error.

therefore - God placed these events and passages for us to gain encouragement, to know that we are not alone, and that we are facing issues that even those in scripture have faced.

David Said:

Psalm 25:16 NKJV

16 Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted.

Psalm 142:4 NKJV

4 Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul.

These are desperate cries of a lonely person.

Have you ever said things like this?

Have you ever said: “No one cares for me?”

You might be facing deep loneliness and need to break this cycle

Trust me - there are people that care for you and want to spend time with you.

What can we do about loneliness?

Remember you have a friend in Jesus

Ephesians 3:14–17 NKJV

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

God wants a relationship with you.

You do this by coming to him as we mentioned before. Romans 10:9

Romans 10:9 NKJV

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and GRIEFS to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in Prayer.

Never forget - Jesus Loves You!

Do not forget that you have a friend in Jesus.

John 15:15 NKJV

15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

know that Jesus is your friend and the as a believer the Spirit dwells within you to help you in seasons of loneliness.

It would be cruel to suggest that human friendship is irrelevant once one has befriended by Christ, we are created for fellowship and relationship, we are meant to lift each other up, encourage one another, and to share in this life together.

But Christ’s heart for us means that he will be our never-failing friend no matter what friends we do or do not enjoy on earth, He offers us friendship that gets underneath the pain of our loneliness. While that pain does not go away, its sting is made fully bearable by the far deeper friendship of Jesus.”

Find your family

Each week at the end of our services we say

“We Are Family”

This is scriptural and needs to be demonstrated in action, not words alone.

Each of us has an important role in the family.

Find your family — Psalms 68:6 tells us, “God sets the lonely in families” (NIV).

Psalm 68:6 (NKJV)

6 God sets the solitary in families;

If you’re a follower of Christ, God has set you “with God’s people and also members of his household” (Eph. 2:19).

Because of your union with Christ, you are spiritually connected to a family of brothers and sisters who will love you and be with you for all eternity.

Find your family by embedding yourself in a community of believers.

Ephesians 2:19 NKJV

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

This is the reason belonging to a church (body of believers) is so vital. Yes! Church membership matters. If you want to join with this church - I want you to come down today and express to one of the pastors or deacons your wishes.

Our next Membership class will be held Sunday Afternoon - April 16. And we will also have Baptism Celebration the followSunday 4/23 for all who will be faithful to the Lord’s command to be baptized by full immersion.

You have a place to belong here at First Baptist Poinciana - We are family. Not perfect, but family.

Reach out

If you feel lonely, reach out to those around you and let them know.

If you suspect someone you know is lonely reach out to them and let them know you want to help.

Don’t put it off or make excuses about why you don’t have the time, ability, or attention.

When people are in need, Christians should be rushing to help for we are called by Jesus to love our neighbor.

This love means not treating someone like a problem just because they have a problem,”

Isaac Adams says. “This love means putting other people’s desires before our own. This love means going through trouble if it means getting our neighbor out of trouble.”

CLOSING:

Jesus is the greatest friend you’ll ever have.

If you do not know Him today is the day to change that.

We need others in our lives to help us, coach us, encourage us, and lead us. We can’t do life alone

God has given us a family found in a body of believers called a church - the church is the people, not a building. We are the church, and we are family.

Tell others when you are facing struggles, not just loneliness but what ever you are facing.

Never forget that God cares for you - and you are His creation, created for good in Christ Jesus.