Hope for the Lonely

My friend Walt Mueller posted the following video on his blog and I’m really wrestling with this.  Give it a look and really listen to the lyrics as the story unfolds.

I’m increasingly growing convinced that loneliness is one of the biggest epidemics of this generation.  Despite being “connected” to thousands of “friends” through Facebook, Twitter, and Cell Phones, it seems that everyone is so busy keeping in touch with everyone that they never get close to anyone.

I hope I don’t treat my Bible and prayer like I treat Facebook – something I go to for a quick check-in, read a status update, but then mindlessly move on to the next thing mostly unaffected by what I just read.  Sure, Facebook can be a great tool to deepen relationships, but I think that takes intentionality and effort… and I seriously question how much effort most of us put into Facebook.

But there is hope for the lonely… and it’s not found through the internet.  Even as I type I can hear people sighing and moaning, “Ugh, you’re going to say ‘God’ aren’t you, that’s so lame.”  Well, yeah, I am going to say God – but I’ll challenge you to really read your Bible and learn about who God is and what He’s done and then try telling me that God is lame…

We live in a broken and messed up, sinful world.  But God is faithful and close to the lonely.

• “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.” (Psalm 27:10)
• “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
• “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)
• “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble, He cares for those who trust in Him.” (Nahum 1:7)

I know people sometimes say that songs like these blow issues out of proportion and that teen loneliness really isn’t as big a deal as people say it is.  I disagree – it is a big deal… and I firmly believe that adults need to make the effort to correct what has gone so terribly wrong in our culture.  We must bridge the generation gap, taking Christ as our hope, our message, and our example (Philippians 2:3-11).

K’naan & Nelly Furtado’s song so clearly demonstrates our need for Jesus Christ, the one who loved us so much to give up heaven, endure loneliness and rejection and suffering for us to the point of dying on the cross.  He did that so he could tell his disciples “And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).  Because of Jesus Christ, there is hope for the lonely… will you show them Jesus?