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Look for the Lonely
During the coronavirus pandemic, the eyes of the world were opened to social isolation and the deep longing for the presence of others. Many with disabilities have long understood how loneliness compounds their grief and pain. It is life-giving for me to have a friend visit when I’m struggling. In isolation, I often stack my insecurities and fears on top of my loneliness until the darkness becomes overwhelming. I long for a friend to put flesh on God’s comfort. Hearing a friendly voice or having someone listen to me, pray with me, or even weep with me transforms my outlook from feeling depressed and hopeless to being revitalized and hopeful. I’m buoyed up when a friend shares God’s reassurance from Scripture, but mostly I just need their prayerful presence. In Gethsemane, Jesus wanted fellowship; he asked his friends to stay awake and pray with him. It wasn’t because God wasn’t enough but because God created us to live in community.
“Look out for the lonely people wherever you are,” a friend wisely recommended. I’ve found this intentional practice restores my own soul as well. When I reach out to someone who seems lonely or visit a friend who can’t leave home, we’re both encouraged by the God of all comfort who has called us to show the love of Christ to one another.
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 CORINTHIANS 1:4