“I FEEL SO LONELY THAT I COULD CRY!”

JOHN 16:32-17:1

"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1949. The song about loneliness was largely inspired by his troubled relationship with wife Audrey Sheppard. Wikipedia

"I feel lonely," Presley said, "even in a crowded room."

Albert Einstein once commented, "It is strange to be known so universally, and yet to be so lonely" Nelson, 517

Have you ever said “Leave me alone!”? We all have our moments when being alone is the most desirable pleasure of the moment; however, constant aloneness can lead to deep feelings of loneliness and the Bible has a lot to say about that.

I want to focus on the hurting kind of loneliness - the type Jesus felt in this passage.

Mark 14:50 And they all forsook him, and fled.

Hurting loneliness: Abandoned loneliness, death loneliness, divorce loneliness, moving away loneliness, high school loneliness, single loneliness, inferiority loneliness, fame loneliness, military loneliness, failure loneliness, the feeling of being unloved loneliness, etc.

John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

It was alone the Saviour prayed In dark Gethsemane,

Alone He drained the bitter cup And suffered there for me.

Alone! Alone! He bore it all alone.

He gave Himself to save His own,

He suffered, bled, and died alone, alone.

"Alone" by Ben H. Price (1914)

Psalms 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring?

Psalms 142:4 I looked on [my] right hand, and beheld, but [there was] no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

“4 weeks ago my whole life changed! I came back from a business trip and my husband made the announcement that he was not happy and was leaving. We have been married for almost 6 years. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, so I asked for a chance to make whatever the problem was better. He said he was backed into a corner and hanging on the edge of his rope. For a week he stayed, and I walked around on land mines trying to do and say everything right. Finally on July 4th he walked out. He is now living with his parents. He won't talk about this, he just wants a divorce and that is it. he says he’s not happy and our marriage has been more bad times then good times. He calls me just about everyday. Sometimes he is nice and sometimes he is very hurtful. I cry myself to sleep just about every night and wonder what I did that was so wrong. I asked why we couldn't just separate and see what happens, but there is no discussion. He went to a lawyer and filed and that is the end of it. I just have to accept it! I feel so sad all the time. Thankfully, we have no children, but the hurt and rejection I feel is no less...” Anonymous

Seven times previous to Genesis 2:18 the Lord says, “it is good” then there comes a change in His perfect observation and He says,

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Loneliness is not good to God. In fact, He made us to have a relationship with us. God longs for fellowship with us and He knows we too need fellowship.

Exodus 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

If you’re experiencing the pain of loneliness, then I want to give you some simple, yet workable, goals for combating your pain:

I. ACTIVATE YOUR FAITH BY BELIEVING GOD’S WORD THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE 16:32 “yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me”

What will this believing faith do?

A. Expect His presence

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

Psalms 40:17 But I [am] poor and needy; [yet] the Lord thinketh upon me: thou [art] my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Ephesians 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

John 14:17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:22-23 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

B. Seek His presence

Hosea 6:3 Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter [and] former rain unto the earth.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find [him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

C. Practice His presence

John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

II. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY AND TRANSITION YOUR LONELINESS INTO SOLITUDE 17:1 “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven”

A. Praying

Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Jesus - John 4:31-34 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Luke 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

B. Meditating before God

Psalms 73:28 But [it is] good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

1 Peter 3:4 But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

C. Reading God’s word

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalms 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

III. BE PROACTIVE IN GAINING CONTROL OF YOUR SITUATION BY PURSUING GOD’S BEST 17:1 “the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:”

You can’t sit around thinking it’s someone else’s responsibility to rescue you. God expects you to do His best and His will. It’s not about you and it’s about God’s heart and will

A. Determine your God given gift (Is it God’s will for me to be alone) (not lonely)?

1 Corinthians 7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

1 Corinthians 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

1 Corinthians 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

1 Corinthians 7:32-33 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 7:33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please [his] wife.

B. Start today further developing your social and Christlike skills

Proverbs 18:24 A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Proverbs 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

1. Read books on building good relationships

Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

2. Attend and join a Sunday School class and attend as many church opportunities as possible

Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the

synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

3. Sow what you want to reap - go to Nursing homes, hospitals, orphanages, widows, jails etc.

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all [men], even as we [do] toward you:

Matthew 22:39 And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so [doth] the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

Matthew 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.