Are You Lonesome Tonight?
As we move into short days and long nights, it becomes easier to feel discouraged. If we are increasingly secluded (by weather and, this year, by governmental edict), we can experience genuine loneliness. I enjoy being alone, but I have a choice in the matter; others do not. Solitude occurs when we want to be alone; loneliness happens when friends and family are taken from us. Solitude soothes, whereas loneliness looms. Because God knows all about us, His Word speaks to us about the painful subject of loneliness. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
The Bible speaks directly and honestly about the sadnesses of life, including loneliness. Psalm 107:4-5 reminds us of this reality: “They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.” It is possible to experience loneliness, then, even in the midst of a milling multitude. Numbers do not change emotions; relationships can. In his poem “The Prodigal Son,” James Weldon Johnson captured this truth. Part of this poem is as follows:
“Young man –
Young man –
You’re never lonesome in Babylon.
You can always join a crowd in Babylon.
Young man –
Young man –
You can never be alone in Babylon,
Alone with your Jesus in Babylon.
You can never find a place, a lonesome place,
A lonesome place to go down on your knees,
And talk with your God, in Babylon.
You’re always in a crowd in Babylon.”
Johnson presents a paradox: in the crowd, without Jesus, we can convince ourselves that we are not lonely. However, we are pushing away the One Who has said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Thus, we are actually increasing our lonely feelings. Rather than run with the roiling ruck, let us “cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23); yes, let us cling to Jesus, Who will never stop holding on to us.