#5 – Handling Life's Hurts

LETTING GO OF LONELINESS

‘I am like a pelican in the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. I watch, and am as a sparrow, ALONE upon the house top.’ Psalm 102:6-7 (KJV)

‘It is not good that man should dwell ALONE..’ Genesis 2:18

Paraphrase – ‘not good this aloneness.. not good!’

‘For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Do you best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers. 2 Timothy 4:6-21 (NIV)

FOUR COMMON CAUSES OF LONELINESS

A. Transitions

‘For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. V.6-8

B. Separation

v. 19, 21; ‘Do your best…’

C. Opposition

‘Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.’ v.14

D. Rejection

‘At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.’ v.16

‘Do you best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.’ v.10

HOW WE DEAL WITH LONELINESS

Workoholism

B. Materialism

C. An Affair

Alcohol/Drug

Fantasy Living

HOW TO DEAL WITH LONELINESS…

Utilize… Utilize Your Time

‘When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.’ v.13

Minimize The Hurt

‘At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.’ v.16
*New Century: ‘May they be forgiven’

Recognize God’s Presence

‘But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength’ v.17a

Emphasize… Emphasize Other People’s Needs… ‘O-T-H-E-R-S’

‘so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.’ v.17b

Corrie Ten Boom’s Father: ‘Corrie, your love has been blocked and he’s married somebody else. Now there are two things you can do with blocked love. You can dam it up inside and hold it all inside and it’ll eat you up.. or you can re-channel it to something or someone else and can focus on other people’s needs. You can live a life of love, meeting other people’s needs…’