The Power of One
No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you. Joshua 1:5
In 1969 the band Three Dog Night recorded a song written by Harry Nilson. As a teen I remember singing this song over and over. The chorus would play like a broken record in my head. It went like this:
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
ONE…That number is daunting to me. It is either very, very powerful or super, super lonely. In the next few weeks I want us to look at the issue of loneliness. It’s becoming pandemic in North America. I find that quite interesting in light of the media driven, connected culture we have created. Maybe the aforementioned is part of the problem. We were created for community and other human contact. The Wall Street Journal in November of 2013 addressed the issue of Americans and our loneliness. Psychologist and director of the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience at the University of Chicago estimates that some 40% of Americans are lonely, up from 20% in the 1980s. Loneliness is said to be the ONE issues of Pastor’s wives.
That being said, you don’t have to be alone to be lonely. Loneliness can be a feeling of separation or a lack of connection with the people you are associated. It can lead to desperation and even depression along with a whole long list of other nasty emotions. Let’s bring it into the light of God’s Word and get God’s take on this pandemic emotion.
1. Acknowledge that loneliness is a feeling not a FACT.
I am not minimizing your feelings but I know from experience that I cannot trust my own feelings. What I might be feeling cannot rule my life. Many counselors have exposed the connection with loneliness in it’s most unhealthy form, has an emotional trigger associated with it and that trigger in many cases has to do with trust. Can you relate?
Trust in the Lord. Have faith, do not despair. Trust in the Lord. Psalm 27:14,
I will bless the person who puts his trust in ME. Jeremiah 17:7
Isaiah 41:10
“Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7
Our great enemy….Satan….knows that if he can divide us….separate us….then he can conquer us.
We can conquer loneliness ladies!
Praying for you!
What do you do to combat your lonely times? Post your thoughts and comments.
Diane Nix is director and founder of Contagious Joy. She is the spiritual mom of two grown daughters. (Kasia 32 & Courtney 30) The birth mom of two miracle daughters – one college freshman Rebekah and one 16 year 0ld Rachel. She and her professor/pastor husband, Dr. Preston Nix, have served in ministry for 30 years August 2013. She speaks and teaches whenever the Lord gives her opportunity. Gratefully acknowledging that He has plucked her out of her birth family mire in order to share HIS LOVE!
