Loneliness
Where is the Lord when we feel lonely? Loneliness is something I hope to be aware of and attack as I get older. In Loneliness, Steve DeWitt teaches that you don’t have to hate or waste your loneliness, but you can redeem it.
DeWitt is aware of the role technology and social media have played to make us lonely. We eat dinner with our family and friends, but focus on our phones. And amassing many online followers is not the same as having family and friends close by. I was convicted.
DeWitt wisely distinguishes between what is undesirable (loneliness), neutral (aloneness), and good (solitude). What I was most interested to learn was how loneliness leads us to the Gospel. Only God can satisfy the loneliness in our hearts. People can come to church and still be lonely because they miss out on God. True community comes with Christ at the center.
Our Self-Giving Savior
Interestingly, it is self-giving that eliminates loneliness. We can look to Christ as our example, who endured all the way to the cross to love lonely sinners. DeWitt uses the language of being “specially inconvenienced” to help and love others – and I was challenged and ashamed of my selfishness in this regard, especially when it comes to being hospitable to others.
DeWitt is clear from the beginning that marriage is not the cure to loneliness. Singles have time, energy, and focus to work on their relationship with the Lord as well as with others. Marriage provides daily moments and tensions for change, the gift of sexual intimacy, and immediate access to emotional/spiritual maturity and empathy. No matter your marital status, it can be leveraged to redeem your loneliness.
Towards the end of the book, DeWitt examines the relationship between loneliness and contentment – ultimately pointing us to Christ. A standout chapter is on loneliness and leaders, a must-read for pastors. Examining our pride, being honest about our social media, and assessing our friendship IQ are practical tips to close out the book.
Made for Relationship
This book was paradigm-shifting for me. I had never viewed loneliness as a gift. I had thought it was a feeling of something wrong – but DeWitt says it is simply a warning sign. It is an indicator that something needs to be fixed. Loneliness is not a sin, but an indication that we are made for relationship with God and others. I now know how I can redeem my loneliness and give it to the Lord.
I received a media copy of Loneliness and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.