Note: This is an older comic, but that season has been going on for more than a year, Lord help me!
Original commentary (from May 2, 2021):
"I want to give you a warning about a trap you might fall into in times of loneliness: entitlement. In my worst season of loneliness, I felt a great sense of entitlement, that I deserved to have good friends who care about me all the time, who will always make time for me. I felt that way because I generally will do all that I can for my friends, and when I don’t get the same in return, I feel like they’re being unfair to me. That is a FALSE statement, nobody owes you anything, you don’t deserve great friendships that revolve around you all the time. Is it nice to have? Absolutely, but you have no right to be angry at anyone if you don’t get it or lost it.
That was a bit harsh, let me elaborate. People have their own businesses to attend to, important things you might not know about. People think differently than you, they may value friendships less than you or in different ways. In the end, you don’t know what someone is going through or what kind of plan God has for them, so don’t expect them to be around for you all the time. Instead look to God, who actually IS around for you ALL the time.
If loneliness is your excuse to slack off in God’s work or your service to others, then be warned, that’s not ok. I say that because I’ve been there, I’ve felt that way, and I’ve felt what it feels like to have someone do that to you. If we’re asked to love our neighbors as ourselves, then we better learn how to have their interests at heart even when we’re feeling down. If everyone only cared about others when things are going well for them, well, here’s a reality check, things are rarely “good” all the time, with that logic, nobody will have any time for anyone, and that creates a selfish world. Jesus asked us to love even our enemies, so why can’t we spend that extra effort on our friends?
If an extrovert like Danny has times of loneliness, then everyone will. So reach out to your friends ever so often. To that guy who doesn’t talk much at church, to that guy who talks a lot but never tells anyone about personal things. If you can’t do that for others, how do you expect others to come to you when you’re lonely?
All that said, loneliness is hard to bear, and I’m sorry if anyone is going through it, I’m with you, but a season is just that, a season. God will help you through it, brothers and sisters, trust in Him. Praying for ya."
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