Jesus Was Lonely Too

Loneliness is something we all experience. It can last only moments, potentially months, or even years for others. I often find myself feeling lonely even as a stay-at-home momma. People might think that sounds crazy, I have a 1-year-old cuddling me all day long. How could I possibly feel lonely?

For one thing, he can’t say anything but Momma, Dadda, Elmo, and a few other things. He clearly cannot have a conversation.  Ultimately, it’s that we’re constantly longing for something that can’t be satisfied by the people and things of this world.  When we rely on people to make us feel complete, and they let us down, we are only left with feelings of confusion, frustration, and isolation.

But Jesus.

Jesus wants to release you from the lies that you’re alone in this world.  When we allow Him to dwell within our hearts, he cures the feelings of frustration, anger, confusion, longing, and even loneliness. If anyone knows the feeling of loneliness it’s Jesus.  He experienced the most extreme form of isolation when He sacrificed Himself for our sins.  We read about this in Mattew 27.

⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).  ⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”  ⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”  ⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

Forsaken. Abandoned. Isolated.

It was at this moment that God turned away, fully aware of what had to happen to His only perfect son.  It often feels as though God turns His back on us, but I promise you this is not true.  After Jesus defeated the grave, He met with His disciples to give them last minute instructions in preaching the good news!

¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

It’s here that Jesus promises that there will never be a time when He is not dwelling among and within us in every season of life.  I encourage you, and I’m talking to myself here, to put those feelings of loneliness aside, because He is our ultimate comfort.  In every isolated and confusing situation, He wants to shine through as a beacon of love specifically for you.