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Loneliness and Faith Through Life’s Four Seasons
Loneliness visits us all, a quiet shadow that shifts with time. However, faith transforms it into a journey of resilience and connection with God. Life unfolds like the four seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter—each bringing its own trials and beauty. From youth to seniority, these stages mirror nature’s cycle, and through them, scripture and God’s presence guide us, turning solitude and loneliness into a path of hope.
Spring: Youth – Comfort in Trials
Spring awakens the world with new life, a season of budding flowers and tender growth, much like youth. In this phase, everything feels fresh, yet loneliness often finds a foothold. During my high school years, dormitory life surrounded me with noise—laughter, camping, late-night whispers—but I often felt alone. The world outside my window bloomed with cherry blossoms and green shoots, but inside, a quiet ache lingered. It was then, under the soft glow of a desk lamp, that I turned to scripture. “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5) Like spring rain nourishing young plants, these words soothed my restless spirit, teaching me that struggles, though isolating, were seeds of hope waiting to sprout.
At nineteen, a spring camp deepened this lesson. Hiking through woods alive with new leaves, I carried a torch to light the way. When it flickered and died, panic rose—until a senior brother extinguished it entirely. “Remove yourself,” he said, “and see God’s light.” In that moment, the moonlight spilled across the path, and stars pierced the darkness like spring’s first blooms. Loneliness, I realized, was a chance to trust God’s guidance, a season of growth beneath the surface.
Summer: Young Adulthood – A Steady Foundation
Summer blazes with warmth and long, golden days, reflecting young adulthood’s energy and intensity. It’s a time of exploration, but also of heat that tests endurance. At thirty, I studied abroad, trading familiar summers for a land locked in snow. The brightness of home—sun-soaked fields and humid air—faded into a cold, isolating reality. Loneliness wrapped around me like a winter wind in summer’s place. Yet, Ecclesiastes 3:1,6 steadied me: “To every thing there is a season… A time to gain, and a time to lose.” This was my season of loss—loss of comfort, of belonging—but also of discovery.
Church became my summer sun, its hymns a warmth against the chill. God’s care shone through small mercies: a stranger’s smile, a meal shared with brethren who traveled miles to visit. Faith stood firm, like a rock unshaken by summer’s heat, grounding me in a foreign land. Loneliness, in this vibrant season, revealed God’s constancy, a foundation that held when all else shifted.
Fall: Middle Age – Strength in Examples
Fall paints the world in gold and crimson, a season of harvest and transition that mirrors middle age. With maturity comes change—career demands, family burdens—and loneliness often settles in amidst the abundance. The air cools, leaves drift away, and life feels heavier. In these years, I turned to the Biblical figures, whose stories reflect fall’s shifting landscape. Moses struck the rock in frustration; Elijah, weary, begged for death; David fell to pride; Jonah grappled with doubt. Each faced isolation, their lives like trees shedding leaves, yet their faith endured.
These examples, like a harvest reaped from hardship, offered strength. Their struggles reminded me that loneliness is not barren but a season of preparation. As falling leaves enrich the soil, so too do life’s challenges nourish our trust in God. In middle age, I learned to stand tall, rooted in faith, even as the winds of change blew through.
Winter: Senior Years – Vitality in Mentoring
Winter cloaks the world in stillness and snow, a fitting emblem for the senior years—peaceful yet stark. Solitude often deepens here, but faith can transform it into a season of purpose. Paul’s journey to Rome, a prisoner battered by storms and shipwreck, echoes winter’s trials. Yet, at Puteoli and Three Inns, brethren greeted him, rekindling his spirit (Acts 28:13-15). His faith, like a fire blazing in a snowbound cabin, turned hardship into vitality. In isolation, he mentored others, his letters a lasting warmth.
For seniors, winter is a time to share that fire. Loneliness becomes a quiet space to uplift the young, as Paul did. Faith, glowing brightly against the cold, proves we’re never truly alone—it fuels connection, even in life’s final season.
Reflection: Faith’s Triumph Across the Seasons
Life’s seasons—spring’s youth, summer’s vigor, fall’s maturity, winter’s rest—each carry loneliness, but faith threads them with purpose. Romans 5:3-5 taught me hope in spring; Ecclesiastes 3:1,6 showed me balance in summer; fall’s Biblical figures gave me strength; winter’s Paul inspired mentorship. Watching my children chase autumn leaves, I see it: with God, loneliness is fleeting, a moment before renewal. In every season, His presence turns solitude into intimacy, proving we are forever held.
We warmly welcome you to our upcoming Spring 2025 Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation (ESSC). You can also join us for the Spring 2025 ESSC via online streaming.
Please find our church location below:
4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
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In the meantime, please feel free to join us for our regular Sabbath (Friday evening and Saturday) services online or in-person.
Friday Evening Service: 7:50PM – 9:00PM
Saturday Morning Service: 10:50AM – 12:00Noon
Saturday Afternoon Service: 1:30PM – 2:40PM
Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org