When stress and anxiety prevail or changes come, we want to escape. It’s easy to pull away and isolate ourselves, which causes loneliness and potential depression. From the first human to today, we were created for relationships. God made Eve for Adam because God knew loneliness was not good.

Sometimes circumstances isolate us. When the Apostle Paul was in prison awaiting execution, he was lonely. He sent for friends to come and comfort him. How often, when we should reach out for help, do we decide to try and manage on our own?

Opposition can cause isolation. The Prophet Elijah ran for the hills when Jezebel put a bounty on his head. He asked God to take his life. He was alone and desperate. Rejection also causes isolation. Sometimes people reject us because of our beliefs, family, social status or ethnicity. When someone betrays us, uses us, or hurts us, we can easily pull away and give up on relationships, keep people at a distance, take no chances for further pain and rejection.

God sees your pain and cares about your heartache. God designed you with a deep need for acceptance. If you are wearing some dark shades to hide your pain and keep people away, you need to change your glasses, change your view. The song Pink Sunglasses by Miranda Lambert tells of a girl who puts on the pink sunglasses to get a different view. She can “change the weather,” so to speak by putting on the special glasses. God wants to give you a new view. How can that happen?

First, praise is one of the most powerful influences on how you view life. You may not feel like praising, but put on some Christian music, listen, and allow it to fill your mind, heart, and soul. It will seep into the dark recesses of your wounded spirit and bring healing. Next, focus on God. It will change the lens you see everything through. In Philippians 4:8 Paul instructs us to think on good things! What you look for will determine what you see and affect your emotional and physical health. Then, don’t rehash your problem and spin out scenarios in your mind. That just keeps the pain fresh and ongoing. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 Paul instructs us to take our thoughts captive. Contain them. How? Focus on God. You must replace the bad with good. Eventually the good will wash out the bad thoughts that plague you. It won’t happen overnight, and it won’t fix everything, but it will remind you that God is with you and as you build your relationship with him, healing takes place. Next, focus on what you can do for others. Self-absorption is a recipe for isolation. Obey God’s command to serve one another. It will change your view.

Scriptures – John 10:10 (NRSVUE); 2 Timothy 4:9-11 (NLT); 1 Kings 19:4 (GNT); Psalm 99:9 (NCV); Philippians 4:8 (NRSVUE); 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

Verses – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (Jn 10:10) Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he would die. “It’s too much, Lord,” he prayed. “Take away my life; I might as well be dead!” (1 Ki 19:4) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Ph 4:8)

Questions – Do you tend to isolate when faced with difficulties? Why or why not? How do you cope? Do you praise God and focus on Him, or wallow alone in misery? Why do some people isolate from church and Christian friends when they need them most? When God is the only one you trust, do you feel lonely with no human you can go to?

Prayer – (I want to Praise You, Lord-Maranatha Singers) “I want to praise you, Lord, much more than I do. I want to praise you, Lord, much more than I do, learn to seek your face and the knowledge of your grace, I want to praise you. I want to know you, Lord, much more than I do. I want to know you, Lord, much more than I do, learn to seek your face and the knowledge of your grace I want to know you. Birds in the sky sing their songs to you. Trees in the fields lift their arms to you. I want to sing. I want to lift my arms to you.” I want a closer relationship with you, Lord!