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Feeling Lonely?

After a concert last year, a guy with a physical disability came up and asked a simple but profound question: "What is the cure for loneliness?" My heart just sank, and at the time I really didn't know how to answer him. But later on I was thinking about his question, and I remembered times of loneliness in my own life, especially in my early teen years.

Coming to the U.S. from Australia and having to build all new friendships was really hard for me (especially because I was being homeschooled and not meeting a lot of new people). I remember coming home from youth group sometimes and crying. I talked to my parents about it, and they reminded me that in order to have friends I would need to be a friend. I needed to get out of my comfort zone, reach out, and not just expect people to reach out to me.

We all get lonely from time to time, but God can really use those times in our lives if we let him. When we feel all alone, we can be like Jesus and use that time to grow closer to God. Jesus often went off by himself to be alone with his Father in prayer (Luke 5:16). When we're alone with God, without the distractions of the world, we can hear his voice much more clearly. Then, we can seek to do his will.

We can also use our lonely times to take a closer look at the gifts God has given us. The apostle Peter challenges us. He says, "Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:10-11, Contemporary English Version).

Even when we're feeling lonely, God calls us to give ourselves away by serving others. Every day we see so many people who are hurting and lonely and need us to share Jesus' love with them. Can you imagine what would happen if each one of us, as Christians, would take that responsibility to love seriously? Revival would break out! There are people in your life—at school, home, in your neighborhood—who would love to know someone else cares about them.

The next time you feel lonely, think about the people you could minister to. Think about ways you could serve them in God's name. When we reach out to other people, they are encouraged and God is pleased. That's when we find true joy in life.

Copyright © 1998 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine. For reprint information call 630-260-6200 or e-mail clmag@CampusLife.net.
September/October 1998, Vol. 57, No. 2, Page 96

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