Overcoming Loneliness

Pastor Scott Eynon delivers a timely message about overcoming loneliness during the Christmas season. He begins by acknowledging that loneliness affects people we might not expect—those surrounded by others, successful individuals, and even people with strong faith. Using examples from the Christmas story, he points out how shepherds, Joseph, and Mary all likely experienced profound loneliness despite their different circumstances.

The sermon centers on the Apostle Paul's experience in 2 Timothy 4, where Paul—despite being one of history's most influential missionaries—battled intense loneliness while imprisoned and awaiting execution. Pastor Eynon explains that loneliness fundamentally stems from a lack of intimacy, which he defines as "soul to soul sharing" and understanding another person's innermost world. This baseline loneliness becomes amplified through three circumstances Paul faced: separation from loved ones, opposition from enemies like Alexander the metalworker, and desertion by those he counted on.

Pastor Eynon then offers practical guidance for combating loneliness. First, he encourages paying attention to physical needs, noting how Paul asked Timothy to bring his cloak. The pastor emphasizes the connection between physical and emotional well-being, suggesting that sometimes "the most spiritual thing you can do is get a good night's sleep." Second, he advises making positive use of time, highlighting how Paul requested his scrolls and parchments, which ultimately resulted in five New Testament books being written during his imprisonment.

Third, Pastor Eynon recommends investing in others, particularly those with similar needs. He points to Paul's reconciliation with John Mark as evidence that reaching out to others who feel isolated can heal our own loneliness. The pastor suggests practical steps like joining medium-sized groups, life groups, or even considering mission trips as ways to connect meaningfully with others.

Most importantly, Pastor Eynon emphasizes acknowledging God's presence as the ultimate cure for loneliness. He reminds us that at Paul's loneliest moment, "the Lord stood at my side" (2 Timothy 4:17). The pastor connects this to Christmas, explaining that Jesus Himself experienced rejection and loneliness, being "despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering" (Isaiah 53:3). Yet the Christmas message offers hope through Emmanuel—"God with us" (Matthew 1:23).

Pastor Eynon concludes by challenging the congregation to envision and become a church where nobody feels like an outsider—where everyone who believes feels they belong. He reminds them that while salvation is Christmas's primary message, God's presence with us is a powerful secondary theme that directly addresses our loneliness: "He is with us. He is beside us. He is for us."