3 Steps to Dispel Loneliness

Pause for a moment and ask yourself this question, “Am I lonely?” Your first response may be, “No, I have my family, my friends, people all around me every day.” But is the presence of people necessarily the absence of loneliness? Living in a culture experiencing pandemicrecovery, isolated often by Smart-phone communication alone, and devoid of relationships due to lack of gathering…think about it. Are you lonely?

I ask you this because it is being acknowledged that loneliness is at such epidemic proportions in our culture today, the government is attempting to create an office to address the problem.

In a recent report Surgeon General Vivek Murthy tells Amanda Seitz of the Associated Press, “Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows…We now know that loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience. It’s like hunger or thirst. It’s a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing.”

Murthy’s 81- page advisory report explains the health risks associated with prolonged loneliness are dramatic—akin to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Loneliness can increase the risk of premature death by 26 percent and raise the likelihood of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression and dementia.”

It’s a known fact that we need one another to give us perspective as we grow and become the individuals God designed. He built us for community. This is one reason He placed us in a family– the Body of Christ.

How can we fill this void on a daily basis? How can we combat this aching longing for more interaction…more relationship? As we seek to move into God’s future for our lives, creating community is essential. The following are steps we can take:

Ask the Holy Spirit to infill us with His Presence. Jesus sent His Spirit to dwell in us so that He might be our most intimate companion. Jesus Himself explains the role of His Holy Spirit in us, “But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), the Holy Spirit, who the Father will send [in my place to represent Me and act on my behalf]… He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall…will remind you of… bring to your remembrance -everything I have told you.” ( John 14:26 Amp).

The Holy Spirit is our Comforter and Helper who prays for us, represents us before God’s Throne, strengthens us, and is there for us no matter what happens. Jesus is our Best Friend and He lives in us by His Holy Spirit making His Presence real in our lives every day.

Pray God will bring people across your path who He wants you to meet and know. I met another author at a recent meeting and hoped to get to know her better. A week later Reen attended a meeting where a women there said she wanted to introduce us to her best friend and cherished mentor… the same author I wanted to meet. God’s orchestration of people and events is amazing!
Push Through the Isolation and Inner Resistance and Choose to Reach Out. As Reen and I move into a new community where we know no one, we’ve taken what are for us daring steps. In two months we’ve:

Joined the Chamber of Commerce to meet people checking the monthly activity calendar and adding events to ours.
Joined Business Network International (BNI) representing our business Waterman Communications Group (website available soon) weekly at a meeting with others who represent their businesses and share referrals.
Attended our first Neighborhood Home Association Meeting to meet our neighbors.
Searched online to find any area Christian organizations we could attend. I already have attended two luncheons of the Scenic City Women’s Network and Reen attended a Low Country Boil (lots of shrimp 😊) at one church and Christian Business Men’s Connection Luncheon yesterday.
Visted three churches and are attending introductory meetings at two.
Am attending a class reminding me how to use my Bernina Sewing Machine today and am looking for a watercolor class.
Scheduled and met for lunch with several individuals who seemed to hold similar interests and for help learning more about our area.
Spent three days doing a “Shop Hop” to 23 different boutique antique, craft, and consignment stores in the area to understand the geography and towns in the area and enjoy a little fun (spending money not required 😊).
Continue facilitating online ZOOM group gatherings with friends across the U.S. which continues to be a wonderful blessing!

If you know me well, you know I am by nature an introvert. Everything I listed here took bravery and courage on my part to attend. My mother always used to say, “To have friends you must be one.” And to do that you must intentionally get out and meet them!

If you are lonely send me an email, join the upcoming ZOOM “Flourish” Bible Study, or “reach out and touch someone” as the ad used to say. Pray and God will help you do it!

Please write and tell us what God did as you were bold, courageous, and trusted God as you pushed through your fears and stepped out!