Loneliness

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)

• 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)

• 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)

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