Discipleship Devotional
"The Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6
There are times when we feel alone. Despite having access to social media platforms like Snapchat, Facebook, LinkedIn, Blue Sky, and Instagram, the fact remains that the best cure for loneliness is not social media; it is in-person face-to-face interactions. You can have one thousand friends on Facebook and still be the loneliest person in the room. The truth of the matter is, loneliness can attack the heart and mind of any person at any time.
Loneliness is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. One's reliance on social media in search of friendship can lead to numerous unintended consequences. A recent Harvard Graduate School survey identified the leading causes of loneliness:
1. Technology - 73% of those surveyed selected technology as contributing to loneliness in the country.
2. Insufficient time with family - 66% chose this issue as a reason for loneliness in America.
3. People are overworked or too busy or tired - 62% surveyed picked this concern.
4. Mental health challenges that harm relationships with others - 60% of people rated this as a significant problem.
5. Living in a society that is too individualistic - 58% named this as a cause of America's loneliness problem.
6. No religious or spiritual life, too much focus on one's own feelings, and the changing nature of work - with more remote and hybrid schedules - were perceived as causes of loneliness by around 50% of people who participated in the survey.
The same survey identified the following things a person can do to tackle loneliness:
1. Reach out to family or friends (in-person/face-to-face).
2. Learn to love myself.
3. Learn to be more forgiving of others.
4. Find ways to help others.
Mother Teresa wisely said, "The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved." Maintaining your personal relationship with God as you follow the precepts of His Word will result in you mastering loneliness rather than loneliness mastering you.
As you prepare for what life has in store for you today, carry this Discipleship Devotional in your spirit, heart, and mind. Remember, God is always with you.
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