There's the story of an orphan boy named Billy who sold newspapers on the street. One day a man stopped to buy a paper, and while the man was searching his pocket for a coin, he asked Billy where he lived.

"In a shack down by the river," Billy replied.

"Who lives with you?"

"Only Jim. Jim is crippled and can't do no work. He's my pal."

"Then you'd be better off without Jim, wouldn't you?" the man ventured.

Billy's answer came with some scorn. "No, sir. I couldn't spare Jim. I wouldn't have nobody to go home to. An' say, mister, I wouldn't want to live and work with nobody to divide with--would you?"

If you think about it, aren't we all like Billy? Don't we all need a friend--someone to talk to and do things with, who can share our thoughts and feelings and experiences, our ups and our downs, someone we can "divide" with?

Companionship is a basic human need, as important to most people's happiness and overall well-being as food, clothing, shelter, exercise, and sleep, yet each of us knows what it's like to be lonely. Sometimes the unfulfilled need for companionship, love and understanding can seem almost unbearable.

Why is that so? If God is love and He wants us to be happy, if He has promised to supply all of our needs as the Bible says, then why does He sometimes allow us to be lonely?

This issue of activated takes a look at loneliness from a perspective that you may have never considered. Find out how God can turn lonely times into fulfilling and happy ones.

Keith Phillips
For your Activated family