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Making friends as an adult is difficult. The disruption of the pandemic made it harder. For many, social media, online work and online life seem to take up an increasing number of hours each week. Many of us spend these hours communicating electronically while physically alone, which may lead to loneliness.
Loneliness visits us all. It may stay for a season – short, long or much too long. Sometimes I have felt almost immobilized in my loneliness – unsure how to explain, questioning whether this feeling was real, wondering if I was overreacting. We do not need to have answers to these questions before we reach out.
Consider how we invite people to church: No one has to be perfectly cleaned up to come to God’s throne of grace. Why? Because it is a throne of grace. When you feel lonely and reach out, can you offer yourself that same level of compassion? At some point, we all need someone to lean on. Friends, loved ones, and congregations are here to be the presence of Christ, believing with us, alongside us, when we struggle to feel God’s presence.
This message is excerpted from “Loneliness visits us all.” by Denise Rector in the July/August 2024 Gather magazine.