“Loneliness is a symptom of our mental,
emotional, physical and spiritual separation from
God, and we can only truly remedy this pathology
by seeking Him.”
(Source unknown)
In no way am I a medical professional, but I am a human being created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27), and I have experienced times of loneliness. This topic can be rather confusing because often I am alone but not lonely. At other times, I am surrounded by people but still aware of how isolated I feel. While I may never completely solve this dilemma, I am confident that I am never truly alone because God has promised never to leave me or forsake me (Heb. 13:5). The word “forsake” contains the ideas of “to abandon, leave helpless, or to desert.” How thankful we should be for God’s promises! To help us deal appropriately with periods of loneliness, this article will briefly consider Psalm 25:16-20.
Up to this point in the Psalm, David has given no indication of struggle. He has offered prayers to God, seeking His help in various areas of life (v. 1-7). He has praised God (v. 8-15), and now the section we will consider is a return to prayer (v. 16-22).
Verse 16 begins with David petitioning God to turn toward him and show him great favor because he felt desolate—alone and seemingly without support—which left him feeling poor, weak, or needy. David was experiencing a period of loneliness and was pleading with God to see him. How often are we like David? In our loneliness, we want someone to truly see and understand our situation. Thankfully, God never fails to see and understand us, much better than we ever could (Ps. 139). He reassures us that He is a “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1).
Further, verse 17 stresses David’s view of his situation. Loneliness was causing David to feel as though everything was building and growing larger against him. His stress level was elevated, and he needed relief. Do we not find ourselves in the same proverbial boat? Loneliness causes stress, and stress can affect our perspective. When stress levels are high, do we see a way out? Are we prone to blow things out of proportion? Like David, we benefit when we ask God to take over and help us overcome our struggles and trials in life (1 Pet. 5:7).
Thirdly, verse 18 points to unrepentant sin, which produces loneliness. Sin produces shame, embarrassment, and a desire to hide ourselves from God and others (Gen. 3:8). So, for the third time, David seeks God’s forgiveness (Ps. 25:7, 11). Sin is the great separator (Isa. 59:1-2), and separation produces loneliness. There is no greater loneliness than being alienated from God because of sin. God desires fellowship with us (1 John 1:3), knowing that it is not good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18). David was miserable and in need of spiritual assistance. God was, and is, the remedy to his misery. God never tires of us coming to Him and is always ready to forgive our sins, freeing us from isolation
(1 John 1:9).
In the fourth place, adversaries promote loneliness (v. 19). David’s reality was that he had many enemies, and they were intent on doing him great harm. David withstood Goliath and the Philistines, King Saul, and his own son Absalom, just to name a few. David expressed, “O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me” (Ps. 3:1). Relief could and should have been sought, and once again, God is the source of relief (Ps. 18:1-3).
Lastly, David seeks deliverance (v. 19). David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), yet he had many enemies. David rightly asks God to keep watch over his soul and to rescue him. Even though loneliness was seizing David, he still had great confidence and hope that God could and would deliver him. Brethren, do we possess this type of confidence, truly believing that God can deliver us from loneliness and our enemies?
An interesting thought in closing: David uses the word “ashamed” in verse 20. Hebrew sources cite one meaning of this word as “disappointed.” David does not want to be disappointed, and there is no reason to be disappointed in God if only we will trust and obey Him. Loneliness is real, and if we are not careful, it can and will affect every aspect of our lives. But let us be confident that God is able to see us through all of our difficulties and trials. Trust in God; He will not disappoint.
-Carl McCann