Exposing hope over loneliness this holiday
By CHRISTINA OLKA
Freedom Director, South Bay Church, christina@southbay.cc
“One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever know.” Three Dog Night
What is it about this time of year that makes us more aware of our loneliness than ever? Is it that the sun is gone and there is more darkness? Is it the holiday gatherings? Loneliness speaks loud this time of year — in a crowd of people or in a secluded space — its noise rings in our ears.
When talking about loneliness there are two questions that come to mind, namely:
1) What do I want to hear?
And, inevitably:
2) What do I need to hear?
In the seasons that loneliness has confronted me most, I desperately wanted to hear what would cure the loneliness, but when I identified what I needed … I was able to see hope once again.
“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” Martin Luther King Jr.
Loneliness is the voice of the darkness. It says you are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, uninvited. It demands that you remain rejected, alone, focused on your hurt and your pain. Loneliness is the perpetual hamster wheel that demands a never-ending focus on yourself. It speaks only of what you deserve, what your rights are and how people are painfully missing the mark of meeting your needs.
If you can relate to season of darkness, or loneliness, can we take a moment to look at the stars in the dead of night? Would you have the courage to keep reading through and get to that part of what you need to hear?
The voice of loneliness is a voice that will captivate you and lead you to the wilderness. It will leave you barren and lost. We must put off the voice of loneliness this season and be captivated by another voice.
The voice of hope.
The voice of hope brings light to the darkness, stars in the night sky and dawn on the eve of midnight. The voice of hope says you are loved, cared for, you will be provided for and you will be comforted. This hope says that you are seen and that you are known. Hope reminds you that you are wanted, accepted, invited and most importantly that you are not alone.
Enter every interaction this season coached by the voice of hope. Invite the voice of hope to comfort every moment. Draw near to this voice and loneliness will bow its knee. This is the miracle. Enraptured with the voice of hope, your eyes begin to reach the needs of others. Morning overtakes the night.
Freedom Ministry: “Exposing Hope” is the theme at Freedom Ministry every Monday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. through Dec. 19 at South Bay Church, 13498 U.S. 301 S., Riverview. Join the group for teaching and small-group focus to break down the barriers to living a free life. To learn more about the Freedom Ministry, visit LiveMyFreedom.com.
