Christmas is here and the holiday season is upon us! To most of us, this time of the year represents fellowship with friends and family, but for others it is the loneliest season of all. Personally, I have been on both sides of the spectrum and the seasons of loneliness have been traumatizing. I remember feeling worthless and letting all my anxiety cast me into a depression. Why though? Why is being alone so bad?
As a Christian, I wonder what Jesus’ perspective would be in this time of loneliness. Thankfully, the Bible does speak about his moments in exile and how he got through them. In the book of Mark we learn that Jesus led by the Holy Spirit to the desert for 40 days, where he prayed and deepened his relationship with his Heavenly Father (Mark 1:12). Later, Jesus wakes up early and isolates himself to prepare himself for his ministry by praying (Mark 1:35).
Jesus didn’t see the “lonely” moments as a negative moment, but he took advantage of them to practice what he preached—to reside and rely on the Lord in every moment. In fact, throughout the gospels Jesus sought “loneliness” to make important decisions, to gauge his emotions, but most of all to spend time with his Father. If the word “Christian” means to be like Christ, shouldn’t we follow Jesus’ example and pray in our loneliest times also?
What if you’re not lonely this holiday season? Why does all this matter? Because God says, “Keep on loving one other as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:1-2).
God doesn’t want us to ignore the lonely or the outcasts. For we too were lonely and outcasts ourselves. We were doomed to hell without a chance of being saved. We would’ve suffered alone throughout all eternity, but God saw us and sent his Son as a way of showing us that the door was open to his Kingdom and once Jesus took his last breath that was God telling us all to come in. He doesn’t want us to reject the lonely.
When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. —Leviticus 19:33-34
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From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love Jesus. Love each other. Love your city.
Harvest, Go be the Church!
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