The Beatles stated it well, “Ah, look at all the lonely people.”

As human beings we will all feel lonely. Our world is filled with people, but we feel disconnected instead of connected.

A Disconnected Society

You click the garage door opener, pull your car in, close the door, then enter your house. You are surrounded by other homes, but don’t know any of your neighbors.

You take the subway. No one smiles. In fact, you make it a point not to make eye contact, making sure your money is safe in your purse or pocket.

Competition in Relationships

Relationships can be competitive instead of intimate.

Your suggestions are ignored in a business meeting.

You post a new profile picture on Facebook and get a couple of likes. A friend posts a new profile picture and gets 700 likes.

Loneliness is Painful

Loneliness is painful. No one wants to feel pain. We will almost always avoid pain at all costs.

When loneliness starts to creep in, there are endless distractions to avoid feeling the pain. You can physically numb the pain with alcohol, food, sex, or other drugs.

You can take your attention away from the pain by reading, spending time with social media, watching movies, playing video games, etc.

Loneliness is a Spiritual Invitation

Loneliness is an invitation to a deep spiritual place within you. It is a call to give up your numbing, give up your avoiding, and step into the solitude of the heart.

At the heart of loneliness is feeling alone or unlovable. But we are not alone. And we are not unlovable. We are loved.

I have a free eBook and audio book that goes into more detail of just how much you are loved called Bringing God’s View Into Focus to Live with Joy and Flow.

You are Not Alone, You are Loved

The Apostle Paul wrote, “I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39 (Uh, I don’t know about you, but that pretty much covers it all if you have any doubts about being loved by God.)

The Apostle John writes a heart-to-heart message and says in 1 John 4:19, “We love him because he first loved us.”

Leaving the Outside Noise for the Inward Solitude of the Heart

Having solitude of the heart is being able to leave the outside, material world. This is the world that tells you what you are supposed to be, do, and have in order to be happy and fulfilled.

When you turn your pain of loneliness into solitude, you cultivate love, compassion, and inner strength. Instead of clinging to others in your hunger for connection, you will create a safe distance to welcome others in.

When Jesus told his disciples he was leaving, he said, “The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I’ve said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution, but take courage; I’ve conquered the world!”

You can conquer your loneliness by finding solitude of the heart. God is waiting to hear your pain and open the sanctuary within you to experience peace, love and even joy.

When you feel this loneliness, retreat inward. Ask God to quiet your restless mind and soothe your aching heart. Let go of any past mistakes, guilt, blame, or other judgments that you heap on yourself to feel unlovable. Let God’s love fill your solitude and take away your loneliness.

Here’s a prayer to help: A Prayer for Loneliness.

It’s easy to feel lonely if you don’t feel that God loves you. Download the free eBook and audio book – Bringing God’s View into Focus to Live with Joy and Flow.