Facebook is a huge part of our daily lives. It’s a great place to stay in touch with loved ones, reconnect with old friends and make new ones.
The lure of building up one’s friend list is enticing. Often we are flattered when receiving a friend request. Most of the time we accept so as not to hurt that person’s feelings. After all, we are also told it’s about growing your network, the more you connect with people the better.
Many believe having a large number of Facebook friends gives them a sense of support and belonging. The key is to remember not all friendships on Facebook are meant to have a deep personal connection.
READ MORE: A FRIENDSHIP FOR A SEASON
Ironically, in a world of billions, we experience loneliness. In our offline lives, we experience loss, for example, when family members or friends need to relocate or a loved one has passed away. Other loss may come from broken relationships that leave us feeling abandoned. Our basic human need for personal contact many times goes unmet.
Though we may feel lonely, we must remember that we are never alone!
God is everywhere we are—He is always with us. God is our eternal friend and His presence permeates every aspect of our lives. This is one of the greatest biblical truths. In Psalm 139, the psalmist helps us to see that God is with us in more ways than we may realize:
I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
Do we need friends? Absolutely!! Can we feel lonely? Yes!! Are we alone? Never!!! We need not allow emotions or circumstances to contradict our belief that God is with us. Share with us how you have experienced God’s presence in times of loneliness.
Lord, help me to discover your presence when I am lonely and friends are not around.
