Loneliness (June Hunt Hope for the Heart) Read Free Page A

man—so marveled by others—experiences as when he is found sitting in a pile of ashes, considered a social outcast, and even worse, a sinner. Once revered, Job is now reviled.
    Satan has been at work, allowed by God to pummel Job with painful trials and afflictions, including oozing sores from head to toe. All of this occurs not because Job is a “bad man,” but because he is blameless before God and his faith is in the spotlight in a supernatural showdown between God and Satan. Will Job curse God once His hedge of protection is removed? That is the piercing proposition Satan puts before God! And it is the question asked about you when loneliness invades your life, knocking you to your knees.
    Loneliness. Even the word sounds painful, bringing up unhappy memories from the past. Were you the one teased about your looks in childhood or the shy, quiet one everyone overlooked? Maybe your best friend moved to a different city or your dad moved out of the house when you were young.
    Everyone struggles with feelings of loneliness, for no one escapes separation, loss, grief, isolation, and the human need for relationships. You were created to live in partnership with others and with God. “The story of Adam and Eve indicates they were partners in relationship to each other, to creation, and to their Creator. ... In life and in death, we long for human community.” 25
    As Paul wrote ...
    “For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.” (Romans 14:7)
WHAT ARE Situational Causes of Loneliness?
    Job seemingly has lost it all—his property and livestock, children, health, and friends, except for a trio who further traumatize poor Job with misguided and even malicious counsel.
    Job languishes in loneliness, longing for the relationships that once so richly blessed his life. “He has alienated my brothers from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me. My kinsmen have gone away; my friends have forgotten me. My guests and my maidservants count me a stranger; they look upon me as an alien. ... I am loathsome to my own brothers” (Job 19:13–15, 17).
    “All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me.” (Job 19:19)
    The one constant in life is change. We all know this to be true. And yet when change happens to us—especially without warning—we often have difficulty adapting. When your world changes and you are no longer able to predict what will happen next, you can lose confidence and feel uncertain, which often leads to fear. This is the perfect “emotional climate” for loneliness to take root.
    Loneliness is an emotion that can strike anyone, young or old, outgoing or introverted, confident or uncertain. Because you have been created to have a relationship with God and with others, you become especially vulnerable to loneliness when you experience rejection or another significant loss. No one escapes feelings of loneliness.
    It may help you to remember that God allows these feelings to enter our lives so that we may turn our hearts toward Him for comfort and assurance and toward others who are also lonely.
    “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” (Job 42:5)
    Feelings of loneliness are often associated with:
Circumstances
    Singleness, divorce, death of a loved one, empty nest, loss of a job or home, demotion at work, major move
Holidays
    Unfulfilled expectations, separation from family or friends, loss of traditional celebrations, memories of the past, lack of plans
Affliction
    Physical disability, mental or emotional disability, chronic or terminal illness, aging, abuse
Naivety
    Taking on responsibilities previously performed by another person, lack of experience in new areas of decision making, disloyal family members
Goals
    New career or career change, retirement, job advancement, pursuit of higher education
Estrangement
    Absence of intimacy, rejection by others, adulterous spouse, removal from customary environment, marital