Tip of My Iceberg

Ward and his sister Sloane, had been outside playing in the deep snow that had fallen while they were visiting their grandma in Ohio. This was their first bout with the cold, white stuff this winter, so there were lots of thrown snowballs and laughter.

Sloane got cold and went inside. Ward decided to take advantage of the alone time to relax on his frozen yet somewhat soft lounge chair. He’s always been a young man who values alone time. He adores his older sister, but he often has much on his mind that he needs to process.

Being alone isn’t a problem; people actually need alone time. Many have the option of reaching out to family or friends if they are by themselves for too long.

Loneliness is another story. We become lonely when we feel isolated from others, when life seems to place a barrier between people and us. Loneliness doesn’t come from being alone but from thinking you’re alone. The sense of being all by ourselves cocoons us and keeps us from sensing the presence and concern of others.

Loneliness is part of the human condition. The veteran who stands on the street corner, willing to work in exchange for food. The homeless people who are asleep on the sidewalk, wrapped in all they own. Those separated from families by war, disease, or misunderstandings, or who don’t believe they can return home. Loneliness can be a huge challenge.

There are many times in the Bible when individuals experienced loneliness, such as the prophet Elijah. He was hated by Queen Jezebel and King Ahab because he had prophesied a severe drought in Israel for three years, followed by famine. Water supplies quickly dried up, as did the food sources. Jezebel, outraged, had killed many of God’s prophets, but Elijah’s friend hid 150 prophets in a cave to protect them.

Elijah felt alone. He didn’t know that there were others like himself.

Baal was the idol worshipped by the Canaanites and adopted by many Israelites. Elijah, believing he was the only prophet of the Lord left, challenged the false prophets to sacrifice a bull, as he would, and the one whose God answered by fire would be the true Lord.

The prophets of Baal called to their god, slashed themselves with swords and spears, and nothing happened. Elijah prepared an altar, dug a trench, and poured three huge containers of water over the bull and the wood. He then prayed to the Lord, and God sent fire from heaven, which burned up the sacrifice, the wood, and the water. He had the prophets of Baal killed.

Jezebel swore she’d kill him. In desperation, Elijah ran.

“Elijah was afraid and ran for his life….He came to a broom bush, sat down under it, and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.” 1 Kings 19:3-5.

Elijah never felt lonelier. He believed he was the last prophet of the Lord. Death seemed better than life.

God, however, had other plans. Elijah wasn’t alone; the Lord appeared to him, reminding Elijah that He had protected 7,000 survivors in Israel who hadn’t bowed down to Baal.

God provided a community for him.

Ward wanted alone time to think, to be by himself. In his family, though, he’s never lonely. His parents and sister provide the connections and companionship he needs.

We will all, at some point, experience loneliness. But God is with us if we choose a relationship with Him. He never abandons us, even when life feels horrific.

Loneliness doesn’t have to sideline us.

We just need to seek Him.