Photo by Alexei Chiznov on PxHere.
Truth is, it was never in God’s plan for you to be alone! In the very beginning He said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him”. Genesis 2:18
Again, in Psalm 68:6. ‘God sets the lonely in families.’
Have you ever thought that you just wanted to be alone? To move to some isolated cabin or maybe buy your own island…get away from it all? Take a lesson from the Hot Coals pictured above! If you move two logs away from each other, what happens? The fire goes out!
The scripture gives a warning, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death!” Proverbs 16:25.
As much as we think isolation is the answer, it can lead to loneliness, and loneliness can be deadly. In an article entitled, ‘Is There A Cure For Loneliness’, AARP, January 2020, Louise Hawkley, senior research scientist studying ‘loneliness’ at the University of Chicago, said, ‘There is a human need to be embedded, connected, integrated in a social network’, she notes. ‘When that social network is missing, the consequences are very real in terms of mental and physical health.’
The author of the article goes on to say, ‘every day it seems scientists discover more ways in which loneliness can attack our bodies and shorten our lives. Loneliness is a killer-and an array of studies have found that it leaves us more likely to die from heart disease and is a contributing factor in other fatal conditions. It makes us more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease, high blood pressure, suicide, even the common cold.’ According to SAVE, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, ‘Nearly 800,000 people die by suicide in the world each year, which is roughly one death every 40 seconds.‘
Unfortunately, I have seen the result of isolation in a member of my extended family. This person isolated herself first from the church, then friends, husband, son and then my family. She would not communicate with us and apparently didn’t reach out to anyone.
She committed suicide….
God had a plan. ‘Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you.’ Job 12:7
The African elephant lives in a herd, Wolf in a pack, Killer Whale and Dolphin in pods, Lion in a pride, Chimpanzee and Baboon in troops, Bee in a hive, Ant in a nest, Bat in a colony, Gorilla in a band, Meerkat in a mob, Hyena in a cackle, Parrot in a pandemonium, Sea otter in a romp, Penguin in a raft, Giraffe in a tower, Termite in a colony, Canadian geese in a gaggle, Fish in schools…. These animals and birds and even insects are telling you there is a better way!
Living in a group offers them protection from predators. They work together to survive, hunting and gathering food, sharing warmth. Our church embraces the motto,
Experience God, find family! They understand!
Living in a group offers protection for you! There is one who is, ‘roaming around seeking whom he may devour.’ He devoured a member of my family.
As Christians, we are called to ‘carry each other’s burdens’, ‘have sincere love for one another’ and ‘spur one another on toward love and good deeds!’
It just makes you warm all over to have family and friends. In the words of scripture, ‘it is good and pleasant’!!! Psalm 133:1
Find your family, you were never meant to be alone.
I’m thankful and blessed to have family, both by blood and by choice. I can’t imagine life alone.
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As we age, i think the fear of being alone or lonely is a big one. Family and camaraderie is a blessing to cherish!
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Thank GOD everyday for family and friends. Where would we be without them?
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