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Christmas Frustration #2 - Lonliness

The Christmas season brings an expectation of connecting.  It’s a time of family and friends – Christmas parties, Christmas gifts and giving, Christmas dinner. 

When someone finds themselves alone at Christmas, it seems to exaggerate their feelings of loneliness.

Common symptoms of loneliness
• Believing that 'everyone else' has friends
• Feeling socially inadequate and socially unskilled
• Being convinced there is something wrong with you
• Feeling that no one understands your situation
• Feeling reluctant to attempt to change, or try new things
• Feeling 'empty', depressed, or even contemplating suicide

Loneliness is a fairly pervasive thing – but we weren’t built to do life alone!

Matthew 1:18 – 23;  Hebrews 4:14-16

3 God cures for loneliness:

Matthew 16:13-18

1. Connect with God

“He said to them ‘But who do you say that I am?’  Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’  And Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.’”   - Matthew 16:15-17

Peter got a revelation of who God is.

Here is the Christmas revelation:  God – totally self-sufficient within Himself – extended Himself.

He came to be with us.  He is on our side.  This is the nature of God.

“Whom have I in heaven but You?  And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.  But as for me, the nearness of God is my good.  I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works”  – Psalm 73:25-28

2. Connect with yourself

Matthew 16:17-18

Peter got a revelation of himself.  When you find God – you find yourself – The true you. 

You can be in a crowd – and feel lonely.  You can be in church, you can be married – and still feel lonely.  People can’t cure your loneliness. 

We have to be able to be alone and like who we’re hanging out with!  Alone is not the same thing as lonely. 

3. Connect with Church

Matthew 16:18

Peter got a revelation of the church.

Love is the unique commodity of the church.   We can have a ton of differences, but the love of God – our common cause – can bind our hearts together.

“And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”   – Colossians 3:14

Church is not a meeting you go to – it’s a life you share with others. 

There is a place in your soul only God can fill.
There is a place in your soul you have to fill.
There is a place in your soul other people fill.