– A.K. Chenoweth

 

 

Many people’s perception of loneliness is the person sitting at home, alone, on a Saturday night, with boxes of Chinese take-out and no friends.

 

While this mental image can reflect isolation, being alone is very different from being lonely.

 

Some people believe that if you hang out with people who are loners, you can become ‘infected’ somehow. That’s ridiculous. In fact, I believe the people who are super-busy, and rarely quiet and still, are the ones perpetuating loneliness.

 

Their super-busy lifestyle is typically driven by the pursuit of success and wealth and, in many cases, the desire to exceed man’s expectations. Watching our family and friends live that frenetic lifestyle can leave the rest of us out of breath!

 

And their intolerance of those of us who go at a slower pace decreases our chances of ever getting to know them! Their world is one whose mantra is keep up or be left behind.

 

 They are quite simply too busy to interact with us and they are the ones who cannot keep up. In fact, they always seem to be playing catch up!

 

Nowadays, more than ever, it is essential that we, as created beings, examine what God says about the value of one. And, above all, we need to adopt His true compassion for every individual.

 

If you open Ecclesiastes – it’s located about half-way through the Old Testament – you will read about the importance of two…Chapter 4:9-10.

 

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

 

Likewise, at the very end of verse 12, you will also read about the strength of three persons,

 

“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

 

And prior to this, the Word gets very specific about a person doing life alone. It teaches us that struggles are more difficult if you’re by yourself. In Verses 8 and 12 it also tells us that someone who is alone is miserable, indefensible and easily overpowered.

 

“This too is meaningless—a miserable business!….Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.”

 

So, what value is there in just one person?

 

Well, although Ecclesiastes frowns upon man’s isolation and encourages fellowship, we must understand the difference between singleness and loneliness.

 

God goes to great lengths to reassure us that we, as singular, unique human beings, have value. We are independent and each one of us is created with a different array of gifts and abilities.

 

We think our own thoughts, we feel our own feelings and, above all, each and every one of us is valuable to God.

 

Contemplate the following verses:

 

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”  Luke 12:7

 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

 

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

 

The Bible also teaches us this…you are never really truly alone. You always have your Creator with you.

 

Jesus reassured us before He ascended to heaven…

 

“…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  Matthew 28:20

 

So, whether you spend Saturday nights by yourself or with family or friends, you are valuable, you were uniquely made by our Creator, and you are never really truly alone.

 

This post was written by A.K. Chenoweth.

A.K. is the author of The Scribal Wanderer, Benign Surrender: A Love Story, The Genesis Diary, and Gaby’s Great Adventures. A.K. and her husband David are founders of 3-in-1 GPN Ministries that publishes 3-in-1 The Voice.