Friday, May 30, 2008
The Loneliness of Opposition by Rick Warren

Dear Boys,

I will be leaving for India 31 May evening and back 4 June morning.

Attached is something interesting!

The Loneliness of Opposition by Rick Warren
Paul was lonely when he was in prison. He says, "At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength …. 2 Timothy 4:16-17 (NIV)
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Everyone of us are bound to face loneliness in some point of our life. Example;

Lonely when opposed, attacked, ridiculed, criticized, isolated by friends
Lonely when you go through a painful experience that no one else seems to understand.
Lonely when you’re going through grief while every one else seems to be having fun.
Lonely when you’re misunderstood, or embarrassed, or criticized.

How to overcome loneliness?
Be Paralyzed or Stay Positive?
Make the best of a bad situation. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

God has planned everything for us, even our period of loneliness. He allowed Paul to be stuck in prison and lonely. Then Paul started writing many of his letters that now appear in the New Testament!

Don't get bitter and start to isolate ourselves from those who hurt us. Building walls around our life keeps people away from us, makes us more cynical or resentful, pushing more people away from us - A vicious cycle!!

If you’re lonely right now, God understands! Jesus understood every human emotion, and there were times when he was lonely and abandoned. Knowing the next day he’d be crucified, Jesus took three of his best friends – Peter, James, and John – with him to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. He asked them to pray with him, but they fell asleep, and Jesus felt alone.

If you’re lonely right now, then share your loneliness with Jesus.