The Place of Loneliness

God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Psalm 68:6 (NLT)

The different characters in the movie were locked into loneliness in some way. Joe experienced physical loneliness when he was in prison and more acutely when he was locked up in solitary confinement. He says this about his experience: “Solitary confinement was my darkest and loneliest place.” Samantha experienced the loneliness of physical separation when her husband died, but also emotional loneliness in her grief. She remarks: “The storms of life are bound to come, but maybe even in those storms, in the loneliest times of all, you’re never really alone. Keisha felt isolated from the world because she couldn’t communicate with others. Macon felt alone because he couldn’t control what happened in his family and the label society had placed on him. He felt misunderstood.

We have all experienced physical or emotional loneliness at some point in our lives. In today’s world, we are more connected to our phones than we are physically connected to people. We have replaced face-to-face encounters with others with virtual meetings. This can sometimes be convenient, but it can lead to loneliness and isolation.

Carry One Another’s Burdens

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 NKJV)

Ecclesiastes is believed to have been written by Solomon, the man upon whom God had bestowed wisdom. And this is indeed a wise statement. God created you and me for relationship. We are social beings. We are made to interact up close and personally with others. To be in community and have fellowship with others. To encourage and strengthen one another. To carry one another’s burdens.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)

We are not meant to carry everyone’s burdens. When God leads us into a community, into relationships with others, as he did with Joe, Samantha, Keisha and Macon, He will give us wisdom to know what we can do within that community to lighten others’ burdens. To strengthen them. To take them out of their isolation so that they can find hope again.

But the most important relationship we can enter into is our relationship with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He knew what it meant to be lonely and forsaken when He went to the cross and died for us (Matthew 27:46). 

Whatever the reasons are that brought you to a place of loneliness – grief, a traumatic event, parenthood that feels overwhelming, difficulty making friends, isolation from family – whatever the reason you are feeling physically or emotionally disconnected, call out to Jesus. He is your protector. He is your refuge. He will hold you in His everlasting arms and restore your joy.

The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. Deuteronomy 33:27 (NLT)

 

Reflection:

Are you going through a time of loneliness? Why not call out to Jesus to lead you to people who can be there for you? 

Prayer:

Lord, you see my loneliness. Lead me to others who can be there for me. Who will listen and pray for me. Move in the hearts of others to see my loneliness and reach out to me. Lead me to Your place of refuge so that my joy can be restored. In Jesus’ name, amen.