Even in the Bible, the Prophet Elijah had an emotional breakdown because of loneliness. He felt alone because had no one with whom to pray or talk and no one on whom to lean.

Elijah was a solitary man and it unnerved him. He said, "I alone am left a prophet of the Lord." Yet God was with him and spoke to him in a still small voice. At the right time, the Lord gave Elijah a partner in ministry, a young man named Elisha. -1 Kings 18:22 -1 Kings 19:12-19.

When we feel most alone, we may be better prepared to hear God's still small voice. He talks with us and fellowships with us. In His timing, He will provide the human companionship that we all need. We must listen to Him and hear Him.

Only God can fully solve the problem of loneliness. He created us so that only He can fill the emptiness through an intimate relationship with Himself.

View the original Turning Point Devotional

Loneliness -vs- enjoying solitude

(This is a preliminary draft)

loneliness can be a risk factor for adverse mental health outcomes including depression, substance misuse, and suicide.

separation from the people, places and social activities that give our life purpose and meaning may be particularly painful for those accustomed to a rich and varied social life, such as gregarious extroverts and social singletons.

There is a crucial difference between being alone and being lonely. For some, being alone entails alienation and suffering, especially when such aloneness is unwanted. This existential pain is encompassed in the word loneliness. However, for others, being alone represents a desirable time of comfort and solace. This existential pleasure is encompassed in the word solitude. This is particularly appreciated by those who are shy, introverted, and socially anxious.

The important difference between loneliness and solitude is being overlooked in current debates about mental health, with much talk of the pain of loneliness, but little of the pleasure of solitude. This is a missed opportunity. Indeed, a reconceptualization of aloneness as a beneficial gift rather than a heavy burden may be helpful for individuals and society as a whole during this COVID-19 crisis. The Benefits of Solitude

Solitude has been recognized as an important facilitator of psychological growth and spiritual renewal by writers and thinkers through the ages. Three particular elements of solitude have been identified as imparting spiritual and psychological benefits, and practicing these elements may be helpful for those struggling with aloneness.

1. Solitude gives time and space for reflection and introspection on the course and path of life. This includes reflection on work, relationships and wider issues of purpose and meaning. Solitude allows us to ask questions of ourselves: our decisions, our options, our future. Such reflection can be practiced formally, through activities such as meditation or prayer, or informally through other solitary activities. This can give much-needed pause for thought in a busy world, and is the impetus behind the popular concept of a retreat, practiced by religious and non-religious groups alike.

2. Solitude can inspire a rewarding creativity in both thinking and action. By definition, activities such as writing, musical composition, and other creative arts typically occur best in solitude. Indeed, dozens of people have contacted me in recent months to share stories of new or intensified creative activities that have brought them much pleasure during the pandemic. This includes practical activities such as crocheting, painting and indoor gardening, as well as more cerebral activities including writing poetry, composing music and scripting a play.

3. Solitude can facilitate the appreciation of things in life that we may have taken for granted; the people, the places and the social spaces that we habitually frequent. Somewhat paradoxically, this separation can foster stronger connections, teaching us what we miss and what we value in life. Indeed, philosopher Paul Tillich stated that ‘love is reborn through solitude’, while theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer (writing to a dear friend from prison) stated that ‘this gap, as long as it remains unfilled, preserves the bonds between us’. Both clearly perceived the renewing and reconnecting effect of solitude.

many of us were ill-prepared for the enforced aloneness resulting from lockdowns and confinements. Indubitably, this will result in periods of loneliness, which can negatively affect mental health. That said, the aloneness can be harnessed in a positive manner through the activities outlined above, a fact long-known by introverts across the world.

Solitude can be your friend. Get to know it, and you may be surprised.

Myths About Loneliness

Loneliness is prevalent, especially due to the pandemic.

1. age, gender composition, geographic location, etc.

2. loneliness is bad and aversive, but it can be a positive experience and can have positive results. It can direct us to the importance of reconnecting.

3. some of us are just lonely people. as a chronic condition, it might be misperceived as part of who the person is. Think of people as feeling lonely rather than being lonely. We are all lonely at times. Loneliness is not about who we are, but about how we feel and our life situation. We can turn things around by changing the circumstances as individuals.

4. loneliness is not just a problem of youth and old age. lack of opportunities to connect, social exclusion, and geographic isolation. it is a wake-up call that we all should be attentive to, no matter what age.

5. To address loneliness, one option is to get out more. We need to reconnect. Getting out is not always possible and it is not the best way to address loneliness. If you are lonely because you are discriminated against or ostracized, getting out more might make things worse. If loneliness is associated with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, social interactions may not help. First, we need to take care of ourselves and reconnect slowly and gently.

6. Admitting loneliness malky be too painful or stigmatizing. Some find it hard to admit. Some do not recognise their feelings as loneliness.

7. That social media is the devil. Social media can be used in different ways. how we use it that determines whether or not it makes us more lonely. if we use it to extend offline social relationships, rather than replace them, we can enrich our social life. If we have no other option, we are actually enriching our social life. It is only when we choose social media to replace other social opportunities that it can make us lonely.

Take steps to be less lonely