Almond Latte is originally an audio devotion.
The following are my unedited notes from which the audio was made.
I know....the grammar is messed up and I need to run a spell check!

Click back: Master List of "Unedited Notes"

Latte 3:  Loneliness

Welcome to “Almond Latte”…I’m Pastor Tae…this is where I share my thoughts with you about the various life stages we go through and the challenges we find along the way.  Almond Latte is a cup of coffee…and so, it’s like spending time together…over coffee…today, I’m thinking about…

Loneliness
-I’m thinking about the person who is not in a relationship and who is struggling with loneliness
….and if you are in a relationship, I invite you to listen on…because it will add to your insights as well

-you know, many people describe loneliness as something really bad
-and I am surprised by that
-don’t get me wrong, it can be very negative
-there can be a lot of issues connected to your loneliness as you try to fill that void
-but having said that, many people think that loneliness is entirely negative and that all you need to do is build a better relationship with God
          -that if you just get closer to him, then….problem solved….
          -now, there is some truth to this….but…
                   -this diagnosis is woefully inadequate

-those who think this way….miss the most basic point about loneliness
          -that it’s an emotion created… by God Himself
-remember Adam?....in the garden?       
          -you should note that he was perfectly happy in that place
          -he never filed a complaint about being lonely
-remember that it was God who said that it is not good for the man to be alone
-and by the way, Adam didn’t hear God say that in Gen.2:18
-now, think this through with me
-even if he did hear God, Adam would still be confused and say “alone?  What’s that?”
-he would have no idea what that was because he was perfectly content in a perfect world
          -and God knew that….
-and so, the only way that Adam was going to feel lonely was for God put it in him
-and that’s what God did…by bringing all the animals to the man for him to name
-remember, God didn’t create the woman right away because Adam wouldn’t understand
-and so, the animals are brought to him first
-and to make a long story short, this naming activity lead to his realization that he was incomplete….and lonely
-my point is….God set him up for that emotion so that Adam would be moved to desire a relationship

So, if God said it first…and then prepared the man to experience it, then obviously…it all points back to God….
          -you could say that loneliness is the FIRST God-ordained emotion in the Bible   
-so, it’s woefully inadequate to describe loneliness so negatively and say that all we need to do is to have a better relationship with God and that the loneliness would then be chased away
          -actually….it’s ok to feel lonely
          -you’re SUPPOSED to feel it
-so when surveys show that loneliness is the number one emotion that singles feel, my first response is NOT negative nor to think that, hey, singles need to have a better relationship with God….NO, my first response is--this is normal
          -so, if you feel it, it’s not all bad….it’s ok
          -in fact…Loneliness is to be a motivator
-God gave it to Adam for a reason, right?
-so, we can say that loneliness in its most basic form is not a sin but a motivator
                    -and we all need motivation to do the right thing
-that’s why God created emotions….to move us

So…discover today…how loneliness can move you to build a healthy relationship that pleases God
-and if you are in a relationship…..and you’re still lonely… allow that emotion to move you as well…towards a closer and healthier relationship.

That’s it for now….you can find more teaching on this at….pastortae.org  …‘til next time….remember, there is a greater purpose for your life

The following workshops for singles deal with this concept of loneliness as a motivator

Click: Master List of "Unedited Notes"

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor Tae preaches each Sunday at the Cornerstone Community Church in Artesia, CA

Resources outside this website are managed by PT Application. Stay connected through Facebook.