God is with you……

This week is mental health awareness week and the theme of the campaign this year is loneliness.      I looked up the meaning of loneliness and it read ‘The fact of being without companions; solitariness; isolation’.  I think loneliness can go further in its meaning than this.  I’ve felt very lonely on many occasions but have been surrounded by people at the time.  Loneliness not only means you can be alone and lonely, you can feel desperately lonely when you can’t relate to people, when you feel so different to others that nobody really acknowledges or understands what you’re saying or how you’re feeling. 

One of the hardest things is to communicate this feeling to others.  Why should they care?  What difference will it make?  I will never get away from this feeling.  Who would want to spend time with me or listen to what I have to say?  Self doubt, lack of confidence, feeling unworthy, not knowing what to say – thoughts which perpetuate the feeling making it so hard to move away from the loneliness.

Now we are over lockdown and life is getting back to the normality we had before the pandemic, we have to think of how the pandemic has impacted society and ourselves.  Community pulled together to help those who were vulnerable, lonely, unable to collect groceries & prescriptions.  Neighbours were aware of each other and if they were coping ok.  Is this still the case?  Or has the busyness of life meant we have no time for others? 

In the darkest moment of my life, not knowing where to turn as those closest to me didn’t know how to help, I turned to Christ.  I prayed and I prayed with my whole heart, desperate not to feel the way I did.  God does listen, He does care, He loves us and wants what is best for us.  He provides the light we need in our darkness.

‘The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

With Christ in our lives, he can help put the light into our darkness and give us the comfort and companionship we need.  But he can also put the love in our hearts to help those who quite possibly are feeling the way we have felt at some point in our lives.

Matthew 22: 37-39….

 “Love the Lord God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is this; ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.”

Campaigns such as Mental Health Awareness week are so good to bring these matters to light.  Drawing attention and not sweeping the seriousness of the issues under the carpet.  Loneliness is real, its serious and its scary. 

O Lord you are my God you are my refuge and my strength.  You are my ever-present help in times of trouble.  Amen

For further information & help:-

https://mentalhealth-uk.org

StanWell Hub – Stanway Wellbeing Hub – Drop in Tuesdays 11.30am-1.30pm

07867 798562