Are you experiencing days where you are feeling disconnected? Not a disconnected from the internet and social media kind of thing, but that disconnected feeling that leaves you feeling all alone. And isn’t it ironic that being connected on Facebook or following others on Instagram can leave you feeling even more alone?
The disconnection makes you feel like you are the only one going through trials and nobody understands.
I tell you — I’ve been there. Those dark gloomy days where it seems the world is happy and moving about, but I feel stuck, paralyzed, and detached. Those kinds of feelings will suck you into a deep dark well of discouragement, if you let them.
Feeling disconnected.
It’s the strangest thing how when we become aware of our disconnected feelings, instead of running to people who can encourage us we instead run to our beds and pull the covers over our heads. Further pulling ourselves apart from connecting with anyone.
We can all experience seasons like this. A sudden life change can bring it on — a loss of a loved one, a change in our job, moving to a new city, children leaving the nest, a traumatic event, or being diagnosed with a chronic illness. Life changes are hard to navigate and embrace.
That evil inner voice you have will whisper, “you are all alone, nobody will understand nor care.” Obviously, that’s not the truth. Many have been where you are.
Getting connected.
How do you get from the disconnected place you are in to finding those who understand? You can do it in one simple step, you just have to be willing to be vulnerable and put yourself out there. That’s a scary thought, especially when you aren’t feeling on top of your game. But the truth is…nothing will change until you change.
Recently feeling disconnection brewing deep in my soul, I decided to invite a few girls together one evening for study and prayer. I longed to create a place that God could use for miracle space. Those I decided to invite were friends that had reached out to me for various reasons over the past months and a safe place for me to put myself out there with an invitation.
To my amazement they all showed up. The night was special — a much needed gift full of tears, laughter, and God’s sweet anointing of friendship. As we began to open up and share with one another, I realized I wasn’t the only one feeling out of sorts and disconnected. We each were fighting our own battles that had left us battle weary and distressed.
We longed for each other’s company and prayer — a sanctuary where we all belonged and felt connected. We continued to meet for six-weeks, each evening as special as the first. Each week I noticed we felt less alone, detached and separated.
What one invitation did was to bring together a group of disconnected girls and there they found connection. It was the lonely and broken that needed an invitation to feel connected and whole.
As we embark upon this Christmas season, isn’t that why Jesus came to be born of a virgin? He was born to Mary, one feeling lonely, detached, and separated. No one understood she was carrying the Savior of the world. Joseph almost left her and I’m sure the town alienated her.
She persevered through the aloneness and gave birth to the Messiah. Jesus was born, and then he himself led a life as an outcast and scoundrel as other’s named him. Throughout his life he continually made known that he had come for the lonely, outcast, detached, disconnected, sick, broken, and the sinful. He knew the feelings of separation well and knows your aloneness too.
This holiday season may we be more vulnerable than ever to extend invitations to those looking for a place to belong and feel noticed. Let’s create small places that God can turn into miracle spaces.
Out of our disconnectedness, when we create miracle spaces for others, God does the amazing and gives us connection.