The Burden of Loneliness
(Handling the Crisis of Life)
The Burden of Loneliness
- Loneliness has been called:
- “The world’s most common mental health problem.”
- “One of the most universal sources of human suffering.”
- Sociologist Robert Weiss estimates that a quarter of the American population feels extremely lonely during a given month. (Christian Counseling, Gary Collins, page 93)
- Have you ever thought that a person can be lonely in the midst of a congregation?
- “It is not good for man to be alone.”
- In the beginning God knew that man should not be alone. (Genesis 2:18-20)
- God created for Adam a helper comparable to him. (Genesis 2:20)
- God ordained a marriage relationship so man did not have to be alone. (Genesis 2:23-24)
- People Feel Lonely
- David felt alone. (Psalm 25:16)
- (Psalm 102:3-6)
- Jeremiah describes the lonely city. (Lamentations 1:1)
- Sometimes people want to be alone:
- Jesus (Matthew 14:13-15; Mark 6:31-36)
- “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
- (Psalm 22)
- These words were written by David a thousand years before Christ.
- This Psalm vividly describes the cross as a person standing below.
- Surely David did not suffer the things listed. (Psalm 22:14-18)
- (Psalm 22)
- The Lonely Savior
- While blood flowed from His brow, Christ was truly alone. (Matthew 27:46)
- Christ was bearing the sins of the people. (Isaiah 53:4,5)
- While blood flowed from His brow, Christ was truly alone. (Matthew 27:46)
- Faith In Christ Leads to Laying the Burden Down
- The burden of Loneliness will be laid down through prayer.
- “The soul that is growing in holiness is the least lonely when it is most alone.” (F. Andrew)
- “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
- “…men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1)
- “Casting all of your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
- The burden of loneliness will be laid down through service.
- “Many Christians suffer from loneliness because they are sitting instead of serving.” (Croft M. Pentz, The Complete Book of Zingers)
- (Acts 2:41-47)
- The burden of loneliness will be laid down through dependence on God.
- “Loneliness is being unaware of the One who is with us everywhere.” (Croft M. Pentz, The Complete Book of Zingers)
- (Hebrews 13:5-6)
- The burden of Loneliness will be laid down through prayer.
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