Was Anybody Extra Alone? How Jesus Comforts the Lonely

I had learn the account of the girl on the nicely numerous instances earlier than, however by no means had it spoken so powerfully to a quiet ache I’ve usually felt: loneliness.

I had at all times centered on the wants of the girl whereas studying John 4, however this time the wants of her Savior arrested my consideration. Within the acquainted account, a weary and thirsty Jesus sits down beside the nicely of Sychar whereas his disciples, hungry after an exhausting journey, enterprise into the Samaritan city to purchase meals (John 4:6–8). Within the subsequent scene, a lady arrives to attract water from the nicely. Jesus asks her for a drink, after which he gives her a drink of one other variety — a soul-satisfying draft of dwelling water (John 4:13–14).

Presumably, Jesus drinks the water the Samaritan girl attracts from the nicely, however after his disciples return with meals, hungry as he virtually actually is, he doesn’t eat. As a substitute, in one other play on phrases, he tells his disciples, “I’ve meals to eat that you simply have no idea about” (John 4:32). The bewildered disciples conclude that another person had given him meals. Understanding their confusion, Jesus explains, “My meals is to do the desire of him who despatched me” (John 4:34). Jesus had feasted on a non secular harvest that day; so spiritually full was he that his bodily starvation diminished.

Meals for Lonely Hearts

Rereading this account was a hunger-diminishing expertise for me. I used to be weary and thirsty from a journey of my very own — one other out-of-state transfer. If T.S. Eliot’s Prufrock “measured out [his] life with espresso spoons,” I might measure mine out with these strikes, each bringing recent emotions of loneliness as I as soon as once more took on the identification of an outsider. I used to be hungry for friendship and belonging.

Jesus’s instance on the nicely of Sychar gave me a plan for coping with my loneliness-hunger. Jesus modeled the joyful obedience that suppresses lesser appetites. I discovered that busying myself with the great works God had given me might fill me spiritually such that my starvation for belonging would recede into its correct place.

Simply as Jesus skilled fullness by way of devoted obedience to God, I’ve discovered to seek out pleasure and satisfaction in faithfully finishing the work God offers me every day, whether or not getting ready one other meal, writing pattern sentences for grammar class, responding to emails, arbitrating my kids’s disputes, greeting a neighbor, sending up prayers of confession and pleas for assist, and even cleansing a spill within the fridge. Every small act of faithfulness begins to fill my soul, very similar to the primary chew every morning begins to fill my abdomen.

Greatest and Dearest Good friend

I’m hardly alone in my loneliness. About one in 4 adults the world over suffers from an identical starvation. Bankrupt of any long-term options, the world suggests elevated human interactions to alleviate the struggling. However for all our digital connectedness, the loneliness epidemic persists and grows.

Solely in Jesus can we discover a resolution to the rising downside. He gives the hunger-suppressing plan of devoted obedience. However he additionally gives a lot extra. Jesus gives the presence of a sympathetic good friend. If, as C.S. Lewis observes, friendship begins when one particular person says to a different, “What! You too? I assumed I used to be the one one” (The 4 Loves, 78), then in Jesus we discover the very best and dearest good friend. He totally “sympathize[s] with our weaknesses” and has skilled the ache of their accompanying temptations, “but with out sin” (Hebrews 4:14–16).

Acquainted with Loneliness

Jesus is a good friend who, similar to us, is intimately acquainted with starvation, thirst, exhaustion, and, sure, even loneliness.

Has anybody been extra misunderstood than Jesus, whose divine proclamations of fact had been met with ignorance and doubt? “We introduced no bread” (Matthew 16:7). “He’s out of his thoughts” (Mark 3:21). Who can overlook the derision of his fellow Galileans after he authoritatively taught and powerfully carried out miracles amongst them? “Will not be this the carpenter’s son?” (Matthew 13:55). How about Peter’s brazen rebuke when Jesus revealed the knowledge of God’s salvation plan? “This shall by no means occur!” (Matthew 16:22).

Has anybody been extra alone than Jesus, who “set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51)? Whereas his pals and brothers carried on with their lives, he single-mindedly pursued the duty his Father had given him. He wasn’t granted the present of human marriage or kids or property, as so many others had been. As a substitute, his was the lonely path to Golgotha. Who has been extra alone than the one who, in his best hour of want, fell on his face, prayed, wept, and bled, solely to seek out these dearest to him sleeping, unable to assist shoulder his burden? “Might you not watch with me [for] one hour”?! (Matthew 26:40).

Has anybody endured extra hatred than Jesus, whose bloodied physique and anguished cries from the cross provoked the jeering of the violent mob who had gathered to fulfill their bloodlust? There, Jesus endured the lonely lash of public mockery: “He saved others; he can not save himself. . . . Let God ship him now, if he needs him. For he stated, ‘I’m the Son of God’” (Matthew 27:41–43).

Nor was Jesus a stranger to the loneliness of bereavement, seemingly having mourned his (adopted) father Joseph’s demise. Matthew 14:13 additionally information his withdrawal “to a desolate place” after listening to the information of his cousin John’s beheading in jail. See his lament over the approaching judgment on Jerusalem or his tears on the tomb of Lazarus (Matthew 23:37–24:2; John 11:33–36). Jesus knew and grieved the separation of demise.

Misunderstood by household and pals, rejected by his countrymen, despised by the non secular leaders, forsaken and betrayed by his disciples, Jesus understood loneliness. Nobody was extra of an outsider, and nobody could possibly be extra of a good friend. To our personal lonely hearts, the ever-present Jesus whispers the comforting phrases, “Me too. You aren’t alone.”

Superb By Loneliness

However greater than providing the presence of a good friend in loneliness, and greater than providing a plan for assuaging the loneliness, Jesus gives objective to the struggling of loneliness. If Jesus was perfected by way of struggling (Hebrews 2:10), will we not even be perfected by way of our personal struggling? Loneliness is one other of these “numerous trials” that will grieve us all through our lives (1 Peter 1:6). However as we embrace the affliction, as we resist the temptations it brings, and as we pursue pleasure by faithfully doing the work God has given us, our religion is refined like gold, turning into increasingly treasured because the impurities soften away (1 Peter 1:7).

One of many functions of loneliness — and certainly, one of many important functions for each type of struggling — is for God to make us superb by way of it. And as all of us in various levels share the sufferings of Jesus, so we could additionally share in his glory.

Not Alone

Perhaps yours is the loneliness of bereavement, or of being the outsider, or of being misunderstood or cynically judged. Perhaps your life circumstances distinguish you, although not in the way in which you would favor. Perhaps you endure continual snubbing in your neighborhood or continual ridicule at college for being a Christian. Regardless of the nature of your struggling, take coronary heart, lonely soul! You aren’t alone. Jesus is with you.

Feast, as he did, on the “meals” God has given you to eat. Be stuffed with “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” that enduring loneliness produces on this life (Hebrews 12:11). And wait within the firm of your dearest good friend for the approaching glory, the place his faithfulness has earned for you a share of his inheritance (Romans 8:17).