I turn the ignition and my car radio plunges me in the middle of an interview. A few seconds later, I figure out it’s a commercial about a company that creates events for single people so they don’t “feel lonely” on or around Valentine’s Day. New station please.
The hard truth is that Valentine’s Day can be tough for single people because loneliness does strike hard, but it also strikes during Christmas and Lifetime’s romantic Christmas movies, during July and Hallmark’s Christmas in July romantic movies, during Easter for singles who also don’t have children to hide eggs for and take pictures with, during the winter when we don’t have anyone to cozy up to, during summer when we don’t have someone to vacation with, and during random Tuesdays.
Loneliness is a fact of life. Do you know what I found out, though? It’s a fact of life for everyone. Loneliness also strikes people in relationships: those with significant others, newlyweds, or married for 50 years. The wisest advice I’ve heard from married people is that marriage won’t save you, heal you or fix your problems.
A married person with a huge family can be just as lonely as a single person with no kids. It’s like the feeling of being alone in a sea of people. Let’s throw in a few more cliche sayings. Ready? Even though no man is an island, and as much as we are created for relationships, happiness is found within.
Truthfully though, the way I deal with loneliness around Valentine’s Day is the same way I deal with it on any other day. Bear with me now because I want to quote this in full. Psalm 16.
1 Keep me safe, O God,
for I have come to you for refuge.
2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you.”
3 The godly people in the land
are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them!
4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
or even speak the names of their gods.5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine.
6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!7 I will bless the Lord who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
My body rests in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
11 You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.
I turn to God is the simple answer, and I guess I could have told you that first but wasn’t Psalm 16 worth reading? This is a psalm of David and he reminds us that we can turn to God for refuge. He reminds us that every good thing we have comes from God, and we are ultimately surrounded by His holy people. We are not alone no matter what we face. We can choose to follow God’s ways and enjoy the blessings He gave us. God is always with us, guiding us, protecting us, giving us joy, and a way to spend eternity with Him. THESE are reasons to be happy, to celebrate, and to have peace.
If we want to deal with the loneliness that comes around this month, we first need to deal with our hearts. Let us surrender the hurt, anger, and every broken piece to the God who heals. Let us not take part in the lies that cries, “We need to find a man,” but turn instead, to the Man who died in love and is Love personified. For the love we need is greater than a day, greater than a month, greater than anyone could satisfy. We need the One who sacrificed, who was selflessly crucified, all in the name of love for the ones He loves: you and me.
This is how we can love our single life in the month of love. Run to Love and accept His unconditional, everlasting love. He sustains us all and through it all.
[bctt tweet=”Run to Love and accept His unconditional, everlasting love. He sustains us all and through it all.” username=”annaangela”]
Join me this month as I talk about loving your single life.
Tell me: What makes you feel lonely? What do you do about it?
