Overcoming Loneliness: Jesus Is Key

By Dr. Richard D. Dobbins
EMERGE Ministries

The only thing about creation God saw as not good was the fact that the man was alone. So, He created woman and designed marriage and the family so that we would never have to be alone.

We were created for fellowship with God and each other. Satan wants to put distance between you and God--between you and those you love.

Every healthy Christian fears being separated from God, and every healthy human being fears being separated from other human beings.

I believe there is a universal awareness that human beings were at one time in union with God. I believe there is a universal awareness that outside of Christ we are estranged from God.

The Bible tells us that he who fears is not made perfect in love and that perfect love casts out fear. (See 1 John 4:18.)

If that fear has its roots in our separation from God, the first step toward dealing with it is re-establishing a healthy relationship with God. This can only be done through Jesus Christ.

When we accept Christ and we renew our relationship with God, then this fear is swallowed up in God's love. In fact, John tells us if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another (1 John 1:7).

Dr. Richard D. Dobbins is the leader of EMERGE Ministries of Akron, Ohio. He serves on the faculty of Ashland Theological Seminary and initiated the coordination of their masters program in Pastoral Counseling. An acclaimed author, Dr. Dobbins has created numerous film/video presentations on topics of interest to believers and has written many books, booklets, articles and audiotapes on Christian mental health care.