Feeling isolated or alone? You’re not the only one. This article explores what the Bible says about loneliness and how God uses seasons of isolation to shape your faith, deepen your relationship with Him, and prepare you for what’s next. Through the story of Elijah and practical biblical insight, discover how to hear God in the quiet, overcome loneliness, and find purpose in your current season.
This is so good Chris! And such an important topic. My work focuses on helping people see the benefits and drawbacks of situations so they can view them clearly, and this article demonstrates that very well 👏🏻👏🏻
Love this. So encouraging right now… which has been a loooong right now:) I was just thinking about isolation before reading this. Praying that the incredible quiet difficulty will result in exponentially more light, good, growth and God’s honor than the “dark thing” is dark.
Praying that the all important way of life, that is loving Him and others so much, will happen more and better as I live on:)
I’m glad you’re encouraged. I can tell you it gets easier. The more you dwell on the things of God and loving others, you can see where God meets you in the middle and you start to look more like Him.
Thanks for this article. It’s great work and truly anointed. It’s easy for us to keep eating from the troughs of public acceptance and relevance only to lose our strength and witness in the “hope of glory-Christ in us”. It is such a trap and I’ve seen over and over again how perception gets skewed when God provides isolation for restoration (Psalm 23:2,3), but I look at it as the trap when in fact was the method of liberation all along.
I truly felt this. It reminded me of the year I retreated from the world. The time leading up to it was the most difficult of my life. Our 17 year old daughter had been diagnosed with cancer. God brought her through the storm. My best friend lost her life at the hand of another. God tried to reach me through my grief. I ran. I hid. I turned once again to alcohol to escape the pain. God waited. He used the people closest to me to guide me into rehab. He met me in the stillness of a hospital room. I thought I had reached the end. But God said, “No, this is the beginning. This is where you learn to trust and to let go.” I did. I surrendered. For the first time in my life I let go and let God lead. And He did. He lead me out of the storm and into His grace. That was eight years ago. I no longer fear stillness because in silence I hear God clearly and feel presence more deeply. I am grateful for the stillness.
This was something I really needed to read today. I am not really isolated. I always have my husband and German Shepherd around. I have neighbors , friends, but at the moment I am having chronic pain issues in my spine. I recovered nicely from a four level lower lumber spinal fusion, and am still in the process of healing. Another level went wonky now ,and being able to get to the places I need to go for fellowship has been really difficult. Also friends are working or have kids. Mine are grown and live 8 hours away by car or train. I am unable to fly at the moment. So I do pray about everything ,am on my church prayer team. Sometimes it does feel like social isolation, but I have phone or zoom contact. I am just really not used to not being able to do what I have always done. God has not left me. He never will. I kind of feel like I am in a Time out! LOL . I wish I could afford to support your writing. Right now I am just reading without a pledge.
This really resonated with me Thank you Pastor Chris. Because i needed this, what struck me most is that when you're in the middle of a season like this, it rarely feels like preparation. It feels like loss. Confusion. Silence. Sometimes even failure.
Elijah wasn't sitting under that tree thinking God was shaping him. He thought he was finished.
That's why I find so much hope in the gentleness of God's response. Thank you for writingbthis
This is so good Chris! And such an important topic. My work focuses on helping people see the benefits and drawbacks of situations so they can view them clearly, and this article demonstrates that very well 👏🏻👏🏻
Love this. So encouraging right now… which has been a loooong right now:) I was just thinking about isolation before reading this. Praying that the incredible quiet difficulty will result in exponentially more light, good, growth and God’s honor than the “dark thing” is dark.
Praying that the all important way of life, that is loving Him and others so much, will happen more and better as I live on:)
Deep sigh.
I’m glad you’re encouraged. I can tell you it gets easier. The more you dwell on the things of God and loving others, you can see where God meets you in the middle and you start to look more like Him.
Thank you pastor I can definitely relate I am in the wilderness waiting season but I know this is my preparation table 🙏🏼 Excellent writing!
Thanks for this article. It’s great work and truly anointed. It’s easy for us to keep eating from the troughs of public acceptance and relevance only to lose our strength and witness in the “hope of glory-Christ in us”. It is such a trap and I’ve seen over and over again how perception gets skewed when God provides isolation for restoration (Psalm 23:2,3), but I look at it as the trap when in fact was the method of liberation all along.
“Isolation is a circumstance.
Loneliness is an interpretation”… so good. Thank you.
Pastor Chris, I don't know you personally, but through the Spirit of God. I can see you preaching this message. Hallelujah!🙌🏽
I am in that place of isolation. A good thing. I receive this message. Blessings🙏🏽
Thank you so much, Cheryl. God works in our story for His glory!
Anyone who has done anything significant for God has spent a significant amount of time alone with Him
I truly felt this. It reminded me of the year I retreated from the world. The time leading up to it was the most difficult of my life. Our 17 year old daughter had been diagnosed with cancer. God brought her through the storm. My best friend lost her life at the hand of another. God tried to reach me through my grief. I ran. I hid. I turned once again to alcohol to escape the pain. God waited. He used the people closest to me to guide me into rehab. He met me in the stillness of a hospital room. I thought I had reached the end. But God said, “No, this is the beginning. This is where you learn to trust and to let go.” I did. I surrendered. For the first time in my life I let go and let God lead. And He did. He lead me out of the storm and into His grace. That was eight years ago. I no longer fear stillness because in silence I hear God clearly and feel presence more deeply. I am grateful for the stillness.
That’s an amazing story. I realize the older I get, the more I just want to sit in the stillness with God. He works in the stillness.
This was the scripture discussed at church last Sunday. I must really need to hear the message right now! A great post as always and so appreciated.
This was something I really needed to read today. I am not really isolated. I always have my husband and German Shepherd around. I have neighbors , friends, but at the moment I am having chronic pain issues in my spine. I recovered nicely from a four level lower lumber spinal fusion, and am still in the process of healing. Another level went wonky now ,and being able to get to the places I need to go for fellowship has been really difficult. Also friends are working or have kids. Mine are grown and live 8 hours away by car or train. I am unable to fly at the moment. So I do pray about everything ,am on my church prayer team. Sometimes it does feel like social isolation, but I have phone or zoom contact. I am just really not used to not being able to do what I have always done. God has not left me. He never will. I kind of feel like I am in a Time out! LOL . I wish I could afford to support your writing. Right now I am just reading without a pledge.
This really resonated with me Thank you Pastor Chris. Because i needed this, what struck me most is that when you're in the middle of a season like this, it rarely feels like preparation. It feels like loss. Confusion. Silence. Sometimes even failure.
Elijah wasn't sitting under that tree thinking God was shaping him. He thought he was finished.
That's why I find so much hope in the gentleness of God's response. Thank you for writingbthis
actually yeah
wot was that? an anti-croak? I LIKE IT!
Interesting how quickly isolation can turn inward.