The Path of Loneliness - By Elisabeth Elliott

I have always been a people person - from being heavily involved in theater and co-captain of the cheerleading squad, to majoring in Mass Communication, serving as a liaison between all the international commentators and men’s hockey athletes for the International Sports Broadcasting during the 2002 Winter Olympics, and even the face of companies I’ve represented - I enjoy people. So it may surprise you when I share - I am an introvert. I know, shocker!

I used to be an extrovert, but then life took some hits such as going through an unwanted divorce and losing my mom to glioblastoma brain cancer. Each trial that came seemed to introduce a new level of loneliness that I was not accustomed to, and low and behold, an introvert was created. It’s interesting though, how God can take our wilderness wandering and actually place us on a path we would have never found otherwise, yet were destined to be on all along.

As Elisabeth Elliott shares in her book, The Path of Loneliness, “suffering is a wilderness experience. We feel very much alone and helpless, cut off from others who cannot know how we suffer. We long for someone to come to our aid, be “company” for us, get us out of this.” She goes on to explain loneliness as a form of hunger. “When we are hungry, cut off from help, and alone, the enemy comes to meet us. He makes what’s right seems unattractive and what’s wrong seems very attractive.” That’s a perfect explanation of a couple of years of wondering where I felt in need of fulfillment and yet found what I needed all along was to remind myself of the love of God, who I am in His eyes, and truly seek to be in the center of His will today so I could be in the center of His will tomorrow.

Our loneliness often will take us down many paths. As Elliott unfolds throughout her book, the many paths may include:

• the pain of rejection

• questioning if we could have prevented life’s path

• having to live with consequences of someone else choices and sinful behavior and/or disobedience

• confusion and insecurities

• cry out for justice

• the temptation to place a loved one or thing as a idol (wherever our treasure is there our hearts are also)

• finding ourselves suddenly having to make unilateral decisions

As much as we wonder what we could have done to prevent our hurt and the path of life we find ourselves on - whether it be divorce, singleness, or death of a loved one, the author reminds us that it is no surprise to God. In fact, when all around us points to our loneliness it is especially then that we can be reminded God is still Emmanuel - “God WITH us.” It is in Him and His strength alone that we are still standing after the devastations in life.

One common error we all can make is the thought that “they don’t know how I feel or what I’m going through.” The author gently brings forth to light Proverbs 14:10, “The heart knows its own bitterness.” That each of us are unique and therefore so are our sufferings. They are not to be compared. And as much as we wish we could prevent the circumstances of life, they aren’t often something that can be fixed, rather they are often something to be accepted and perhaps even a necessary part of our journey. The losses in life - a job, a marriage, the life of a loved one are apart of our story. Elliott points out that “God never denies us our heart’s desire except to give us something better.” It’s hard to imagine a job loss could provide to a better job, but it happens. It’s challenging to see that a divorce might lead to something better (I still struggle with this one). And it’s definitely almost angering to try to comprehend that a death of a loved one could lead to something better, but that is when I have to step back and realize if I could fully understand God or explain God or think like God, then what type of “God” would I be serving? Isaiah 55:8 tells us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.”

So, when I can’t see HIs hand, I seek to trust His heart - and I give thanks for what I don’t know. What He protected me from that I’ll never know. What He provided for in a death I can’t understand. Why we’ve had to suffer or walk some of life’s paths that have come our way. And I simply. give. thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Be thankful, whatever the circumstances may be. For this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

Trusting in God’s goodness, and clinging to His promises we can be reassured that “He heals the brokenhearted.” And in the end, with a heart refocused on the Lord, and thanksgiving in my heart, we suddenly find our circumstances unchanged, but a “strange peace that is not the world’s kind.”

My friend, are you battling a season of loneliness right now? Perhaps during this pandemic you are removed from your social outlets. Maybe you have had a job change or a move that has left you feeling out of place? Are you walking a path of singleness when you envisioned being married or having kids by now? Have you lost your best friend through a move or perhaps a death? I strongly suggest taking a moment to read this book. I fully believe it will encourage you, lift your head, and remind you that God is enough - your portion - your comfort, your fulfillment from a path of loneliness.

Purchase The Path of Loneliness now on Amazon. 
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