A man contacted me and asked “loneliness is an affliction too?” Indeed it can be. The Hebrew word translated “desolate” or “lonely” in the Old Testament means “one alone, only; one who is solitary, forsaken, wretched.” {www.gotquestions.com}

Many people are lonely and suffer. The “feeling” and mind set of sadness due to lack of friends, companionship, isolation. Separation, a feeling of being unwanted, alone even in the midst of a crowd. The state of mind or a feeling of estranged, left out. The desire of being accepted and not rejected. Loneliness is emotionally painful, but it is not the master. Jesus is! Perhaps it’s not you who is lonely, but if not then you have ways to seek to come alongside someone who is. Below are some, I hope practical ways to help the lonely

Loneliness, perhaps YOU ARE not there, but you can be God’s means of Help to the lonely.

Some ways to encourage, comfort and build them up are…

  1. – You can offer HOSPITALITY to those who need companionship .”Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.”- 1 Peter 4:9. Do you know anyone who is single, or an elderly person who is “alone?” Can you open your HEART and offer your HOME and give them a warm welcome and make a place for them! “God makes a home for the lonely.”- Psalm 68:6;
  2. – You can offer EMPATHY, by putting yourself in their place and owning it as your own. Identify with them. They are not a “project,” or a “ministry opportunity,” but a person whom Jesus Christ died for. Hebrews 4:15-16, says He “empathizes” which means He feels the very feelings they feel. He understands, He knows, they are not so alone that no one understands. The Lord knows. The Lord cares for them {1 Peter 5:7}, Let them read these verses and know, they are not alone. Seek to encourage them with the Scriptures. Perhaps they can listen to the Word if they feel too tired to read. Perhaps you could ask if you could read the Scriptures to them. Seek to encourage them with the Scriptures to use His Word to strengthen them in such times…to focus on Who they are “In Christ” what they have “In Christ” and to seek to reach out to serve others for Christ, realizing the “feelings of loneliness” do not negate the Fact- The LORD is NEAR! They are never alone.{Heb 13:5}.
  3. You Can STRENGTHEN them. REMIND them they have the STRENGTH to choose to LIVE BY FAITH and NOT by feelings as the authority for how they and you live. BE IN IT WITH THEM. Not speaking down to them, but coming alongside to gently encourage them and reminding each other of His Word.{2 Cor 5:7}.”Paul and Barnabas traveled through three places with intent which was in part,…”…STRENGTHENING the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith…” Acts 14:22.
  4. The KINGDOM OF GOD STILL NEEDS TO BE SPREAD -{Matt 6:33]… In the circumstances they find them self in they can as Paul, “my circumstances have worked out to advance the Gospel.” This Paul did from difficult circumstances while imprisoned and others had sought to harm him with impure motives in sharing the Gospel. Even then Paul chose to “rejoice,” because the Gospel was being advanced. In his circumstances he advanced the Gospel through evangelizing- v 13.and Encouraging God’s people to boldly share the Word.-14. {Phil 1:12-14}. He also had Prayed in {v-3-5,and 9-11}. ENCOURAGE THEM to see the people who are in their circumstances to pray, evangelize, encourage. Have them FOCUS OUTWARD on others and not inward on self!. “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.”-John 4:35. “These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields.”-Luke 10:2. There is an URGENCY for the souls of men and the lonely must look beyond their own pain to those in spiritual need. The enemy would have them self occupied their Lord would have them to be Others occupied for His sake. Help them to see this. Pray for them to that end.

Focusing inward will thwart Seeking Him, His Kingdom.

Don’t lose sight of Him, and your furthering of His mission. Look outside of yourself to the lonely and come alongside someone to encourage them and together further His kingdom.

4 WAYS TO COME ALONGSIDE THE “LONELY” TO spur them on to eternal things, TAKE ACTION -Look today to come alongside, BEFRIEND and spur on. “God makes a home for the lonely.” Is your home such a place? Are you a friend to the lonely? The lonely need a friend. Someone who loves, accepts and invests their life into them and seeks to build them up in their faith. PRAY God will lead you to someone whom you can come alongside.

  1. HOSPITALITY
  2. EMPATHY
  3. STRENGTHENING their Faith
  4. CIRCUMSTANTIALLY SPREADING THE GOSPEL