Isolation is a primary source of emotional and mental sorrow.
For years, I betrayed my children by isolating myself when they needed me to play with them. I’m sad when I see the pictures in my heart of them saying, “Daddy come outside and play with me, please.” I answered “No” and went back to my studies or whatever I was thinking about. A more recent example is when I had a stroke and chose not to go to our weekly Bible study, even though my wife said it would be good for me and offered to drive me. I said “No” and choose passivity.
In both cases, I isolated myself from my loving little ones and from my comforting brothers and sisters in Christ. Without knowing it—until the Spirit convicted me—I chose to isolate myself from God’s loving and healing care. I grieve—and now understand isolation is my worst enemy.
Practicing as a professional counselor for many years, I learned there are legitimate reasons for patients needing isolation, and that it is often a part of recovery from medical trauma. If these experiences are not put in a healing context that promotes pro-activity, isolation can easily become a habit that determines the quality of life from that point forward.
Losing a mate to death or divorce is traumatizing, because they have become a part of our self-image. Bonding has become a part of who and what we are. A great sense of loss happens when this bond disappears. A period of recovery—in which we find ourselves and emotionally learn to accept their absence as well as remember what we were before we bonded—is necessary. Our former self will always be alive in our heart. Love never passes away.
Drawing away isolates us from others and, more importantly, from the Holy Spirit’s love and healing. Paul wrote, “It is God which works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
Step out in faith with Jesus. Looking away from your loneliness, fear, and pain is not easy, but it changes things. Remember, when Peter took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink.
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The Rev. Dr. Bob Segress served as a licensed psychological clinician for twenty-five years. Upon retiring, he served for fifteen years as a prison minister. Retiring again, he began writing full-time after a period of boredom. He has written: The Biblical Approach To Psychology while serving as a college educator, The Shelton Series, and, in 2012, Ten Years Inside Shelton Prison. Currently, he writes for several publications such as Halo Magazine.