L.O.N.E.L.Y.: It's a Long Road Ahead
Reading Time: 5 minutes
In light of the thought-provoking conversation my husband and I shared last night about revival and Christ’s second coming, we found ourselves acknowledging the mystery that surrounds these topics—realizing that any discussion about them is ultimately full of speculation, since the timing of Jesus’s return remains known only to God.
It’s part of our human nature to try and guess what God is up to when we perceive changes in the spiritual atmosphere, but just like we can’t declare when Jesus is coming back, the peaks and valleys that we walk through in life are also out of our control. The only thing we can control is who we choose to put our faith in. We know that the Christian life isn’t exempt from pain or suffering, but we can put our hope and trust in the fact that Jesus is always with us and directing our steps.
When we find ourselves in a season that’s out of our control, it’s easy to want to lean on our own understanding, even when God advises us not to. If we lose a job, we find a replacement; if we end a relationship, we jump into a new one; if we’re disappointed with our church, it’s onto the next. We think to ourselves, “there we go, problem solved.”
It’s tempting to want to force a door open and take ourselves out of the valley of our lives. But all of these solutions are merely band-aids that keep us living an empty life—same thing, different year—if we never stop to seek God’s will with our whole hearts. What if God’s way offers a better alternative? Perhaps, He has a plan for these transitions, but we miss out on the blessings because we want to be God instead of be like God.
I remember when my season of transition began, and I thought loneliness would be a brief stop. Three months of postpartum, and then I’d have my life back—that’s how long my maternity leave was after all. But as days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, and I only felt more exhausted and isolated, not less, I realized this was going to be a long road. Trying to fix the problem by trying to drag my past into my new present only made me feel more lost, and like David in Psalm 23, I needed to trust that God was with me through all of the changes, even when I couldn’t see the end.
Loneliness can often be a symptom to a problem. For me, the problem was really that I feel like no one could ever understand my experience. But feeling misunderstood reminded me why I fell in love with Jesus in the first place. What makes the Christian faith so special and unique is the fact that Jesus walked among us as fully God and fully man. Our God understands, and to claim anything otherwise is human pride that needs to be submitted and surrendered to God.
The journey through loneliness may be long, but it’s not wasted. God uses these seasons to shape us, teach us, and draw us closer to Him. Sometimes we find ourselves in a season that lingers longer than we expected, but the Bible reminds us that even in our darkest valleys, God walks with us.
He is not a distant observer—He is our Shepherd, guiding and comforting us every step of the way. When the road feels long, remember that God’s presence is your constant companion. He sees every step you take and promises to never leave you alone on the journey.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. —Psalm 23:4
Journal Prompt
Where do you feel the journey of loneliness is taking you right now? Write about your hopes and fears for the road ahead, and ask God to show you how He is walking with you.
Prayer
Lord, sometimes the path ahead feels endless and overwhelming. Thank You for being my Shepherd and for walking with me, even when I feel alone. Help me trust Your guidance and find comfort in Your presence. Amen.