Part 4: Never Forsaken: God's Answer to Loneliness

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The Loneliness Project Podcast - Episode 4 Show Notes

Episode Title: Never Forsaken: God’s Answer to Loneliness

Welcome Back!
Welcome back to The Loneliness Project, a podcast dedicated to overcoming loneliness as we enter our later years. This is part 4 of the series, titled Never Forsaken: God’s Answer to Loneliness.

Before we dive in, I want to express my deep gratitude to you, the listener. Many of you have journeyed with me through all four episodes, and I truly appreciate it. A special thanks to those who have engaged with the reflection questions or reached out with messages. Your responses have been insightful, encouraging, and even humorous at times!

Recap of Previous Episodes

• Part 1: Defined loneliness vs. solitude.
• Part 2: Examined loneliness in end-of-life issues, including dementia.
• Part 3: Explored practical ways to combat loneliness.

I hope you’ve found ways to bring more joy into your days—laughter is a powerful antidote to loneliness!

Key Assumptions Throughout This Series

1. Intended Audience: This series is for those contemplating the aging process, whether they are experiencing it now or preparing for it. It is also for those looking to support lonely older adults.
2. Personal Choice in Loneliness: While loneliness can be complex, there are often choices we can make to mitigate it. A listener shared, “I needed to reach out to the church and find a Bible study we could join. You can't sit at home and expect anything to change.”
3. The Value of Solitude: History shows that chosen solitude can be transformative. Biblical figures like David, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Jesus spent significant time alone with God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wisely noted, “None of us can afford solitude if we do not live in community, nor can we have real community without solitude.”
4. God’s Interest in Our Lives: God deeply cares for the lonely, the fatherless, and the widowed. Psalm 68:5-6 reminds us, “God is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows… He sets the lonely in families.”

God’s Presence in Loneliness
A friend recently reminded me of a profound truth: “The beauty of the Christian faith is that we are never really alone. God is with us, and abiding in Him is the first and most powerful antidote to loneliness.”

From the beginning, God declared that it is not good for us to be alone. Throughout scripture, His messages are often addressed to communities, emphasizing the importance of relationships.

God also champions the underdog—foreigners, widows, and orphans. Isaiah 46:4 provides reassurance: “Even when you are old, I will take care of you; even when you have gray hair, I will carry you.”

For those of us who claim to follow God, this means we are called to love and care for the lonely among us.

Personal Story: Trusting in God’s Presence
In my own life, I’ve experienced profound isolation and loneliness. During one particularly difficult season, I cried out to God in frustration. As I looked out at a mountain, I felt His response in three simple words: “I’ve got this.”

Years later, I see how God was indeed in control. Even in the storm, He was present.

This truth extends to all of us—whether facing personal loneliness or the uncertainty of our times, we can trust that God “has got this.”

The Loneliness of Jesus & The Hope of the Cross
Jesus understands loneliness. He was abandoned by His closest friends at His most critical moment, crying out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”

Yet, His story did not end on the cross. The resurrection brings hope—a powerful antidote to loneliness. As my chaplaincy professor, Dr. Gloria Woodland, put it:
“The contradiction of the cross and resurrection is hope. The cross represents aloneness… The Resurrection means that the future will not be alone and that no one will be forsaken. Christ is our hope.”

Closing Thoughts
I recently heard from a widow who wrote, “I am blessed that I have the LORD in my life as HE comforts at my ‘lowest.’” This is a truth echoed by many who have faced loneliness through grief and loss. Even in the darkest times, God’s presence remains.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 reminds us:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you… You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Final Reflections
As we wrap up this 4-part series, I want to highlight three key themes:

• Resilience: By preparing for loneliness early, we can build resilience for later years.
• Hope: Christian hope is not just a feeling—it’s a choice to trust in the promises of God.
• Being an Agent of Hope: We are called to extend hope to the lonely. Perhaps when God “sets the lonely in families,” He uses us to be that family.

This is Irwin (Mr. Harbourbreeze). Blessings, my friends. Thank you for being part of The Loneliness Project.

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