Problems: Loneliness

II Tim. 4:9-22

2Ti 4:9-13 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. The book of 2 Timothy is part of what we refer to as the prison epistles. They are letters written while the Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome awaiting his execution. From them we discover that Paul had to deal with an emotion which plagues all of us at one time or another, loneliness.

In our busy, over-populated world it seems a bit strange that loneliness could ever be a problem for anyone. The simple fact is this: just keeping busy or being around a lot of people, does not lighten the weight of loneliness.

In that damp, dark dungeon the Apostle Paul wrestled with loneliness. We want to make our way back into history and observe the way that Paul dealt with this very difficult problem that we might learn how to handle loneliness in our own lives.

I. Who?

II. When?

III. Positive Results of Loneliness.

IV. Remedies for Loneliness.

Many people, when they find themselves overcome by loneliness, simply cry and moan 'Poor me...no one ever had it so hard'. That is not a solution to the problem, it merely intensifies it. When we are lonely, we need to remember Paul's experiences. We need to come to terms with it. It is the perfect time to say, "Lord, I've exhausted all my alternatives; now it's just You and me. Have your will and way in my life, and I'll honor you." Loneliness can cripple you if you let it. But if we choose instead to deal with it, we can learn some valuable lessons along the way.