Loneliness: Working from Home
by Kara Silvers
(Isaiah 58:11, NIV).
I yearned to work from home and considered it the perfect job. No commute, no one breathing down my neck all day. I could wear my pajamas, which seemed awesome. When I began to write full time, I rejoiced at the fulfillment of my dream.
People shared various methods to maximize the work-from-home experience. Yet no one talked about the challenge of isolation. As writers, we often contend with loneliness.
While reading my Bible, I soon discovered ancient writers also felt alone. The Psalms share David’s outcries. Amid his loneliness, the psalmist-King relied upon God as his sole confidant.
David’s writing reveals we can feel lonely while living a full life. We can draft fulfilling writing projects, participate in Bible studies, and enjoy fellowship with friends and family. However, those long days spent inside our homes writing alone can sometimes prove discouraging.
God wants us to turn to Him first to help with loneliness. Yes, we still need connections with others. But on those days when we cannot access community, we look to God to fill us. We look to God to help us in our loneliness. When we open our Bibles or pray, we fill the empty space of our loneliness by communicating with the author of our faith. We can trust God to fill that void and help us not feel alone.
Full-time writers and those who work from home need communion with people. We can remind ourselves to plan outings to be with others. When our writing commitments keep us in the house for days on end, we can turn to God for help through the season of seclusion.
Dear God, we come to you today to help us to remember to turn to you when we feel alone. Help us to remember that you are with us and that your word can fill us and help us in ways no human can. Amen.
Kara Silvers considers herself an expert about all things work from home. She has worked from home for over 10 years and has discovered the do’s and don’ts, so she wants to bring those to her readers. In her free time, she enjoys Auburn sporting events, having outings with friends, and shopping! Connect with Kara at https://www.thestylineducator.com
Working from home is especially hard on us extroverts. I do plan lunches with friends – probably too often. haha! But I also love getting together with other writers … to write. Something wonderful happens when creative people get together. I had a group that used to meet once a month (before Covid) on a Saturday from 10am-4pm. We’d give short updates on ourselves and then write. No talking. No sharing anything. Then we’d break for lunch where we would talk and share and ask for any help we needed. Then we’d do the same thing after lunch. Just write. I’m telling ya, it was fabulous! I got more writing done there than at home, where everything distracts me. 🙂