So, do not fear, for I am
with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help
you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Have
you ever been surrounded by people, yet you felt left out, different, like
something was wrong with you? Especially when you get older you have lost a
spouse, it’s hard for you physically, less friends at church and you get that
uncomfortable feeling that there’s a youth movement going on and you don’t know
a single person but you really wish you did? A desire to connect, communicate and
enter into a ‘Happy Birthday phone call once in a while relationship!’
No
one felt loneliness more keenly than David. In a series of earnest, heartfelt
appeals to God, David cried out in his loneliness and despair. His own son was
risen up against him, the men of Israel went after him, and he was forced to
flee from the city, and leave his house and family. Lonely and afflicted (Psalm 25:16), his only recourse was to turn to God
and plead for mercy and God’s intervention (Psalm 25:21)
because his only hope was in God. It is interesting to note that the word
“lonely” is never used in the New Testament to describe people. In the New
Testament, the word “lonely” only occurs twice and both times refers to
desolate places (Mark 1:45; Luke 5:16),
where Jesus moved off into the wilderness to be alone.
Now I
know as Christians we desire to have a relationship with Christ and that we
belong to God’s family but how do we begin to experience authentic love and
real connection in the body of Christ?
Speaking
out loud to others, I would say,” the church needs to create a Mentoring
program between Senior Adults and Teens. The response often would be,” we tried
that before”. To break out of this thinking means taking several steps forward:
Realize
your need, move toward others, be vulnerable, change your thinking, take risks,
be empathetic and most of all Pray, pray, pray and Trust God
Loneliness
can be an embarrassing topic we don’t like to talk about or admit to. Yet all
of us are familiar with it, to some degree, because loneliness is an
inescapable consequence of the fall. I believe senior adults and teenagers in
the 21st century have some amazing similarities, interests, needs,
and characteristics. When I listen to both groups as they are attaining a new
status in life I hear three basic questions:
Who
am I?
Why
am I here?
Where
am I going?
I
often wondered why both groups don’t visit the others’ bible study class to
dialogue about struggles, victories, and how scripture supplies answers to the
three life questions of identity, purpose, and direction. To me this would be a
start. Why not have a Senior Prom to celebrate significant milestones in life.
Whether the milestone be physical reality or a spiritual symbol.
In
Philippians 3:10, Paul uses the phrase, ‘the fellowship of his sufferings.’ So
many of us love to enter into the fellowship of God’s joy, but Scripture also
calls us into the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. And sometimes, we don’t
need to avoid the pain or numb the pain; we need to look at that pain and ask
God for a deeper joy.”
Whatever
the cause of loneliness, for the Christian the cure is always the same—the
comforting fellowship of Christ. That loving relationship with our Master has
reassured and encouraged countless thousands who languished in prisons and even
went to their deaths for His sake. He is the friend who “sticks closer than a
brother” (Proverbs 18:24), who lays down His life for His friends (John 15:13-15), and who has promised never to leave us or forsake us but to be with
us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). We can take comfort in the words of the old hymn that says it best:
“Friends may fail me, foes assail me, He is with me to the end. Hallelujah,
what a Savior!”
To
provide for the mentoring needs of your local community of faith, speak to the
leaders. Embrace with your words how we must be intentional, continually
expanding the circle of mentors by “equipping others” to mentor within the Body
of Christ!
God
Bless You and This Ministry!
