Probably the hardest thing any single parent is bound to face is loneliness, and shaking off that negative feeling is not as easy as it sounds, according to Christian author and blogger Jennifer Maggio.
"Loneliness is dangerous. It can assuredly lead to compromise," she wrote on her Crosswalk blog. "Loneliness can lead to further isolation and even depression or alcohol and drug use. It can attribute to bitterness and anger and a myriad of other not-so-positive emotions."
Maggio, who is also the founder of the global non-profit The Life of a Single Mom Ministries "Overwhelmed: The Single Moms Magazine," shared three things that will help single parents combat loneliness.
The first is to recognise that they are never truly alone, since God has made a promise never to leave His people. And even though people might be sceptical and think that human interaction is way better than achieving a relationship with God, Maggio said it is "the most important part of our life. The development of our relationship with the Lord is above all else our strength, our comfort, our peace."
The second thing to do is to become selfless and think of other people for a change, she said. "Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 7 about how his singleness has allowed him to serve God better. Next time you feel loneliness creeping in, consider serving someone else," Maggio said.
Those bitten by the loneliness bug could volunteer at a local soup kitchen, or babysit for a fellow single parent, or offer dinner to some friends—the possibilities are endless, she said.
Lastly, Maggio said single parents should stay connected to their local churches. "I am a huge proponent of this one. The Life of a Single Mom Ministries exists for this very reason," she explained. "We believe that if we can keep single parents connected to a local support group in a church, we can help with those struggles of loneliness."
Support networks give people perspective, she added, and it helps for them to hear others' problems or to hear wisdom from someone who has been where they currently are.
Satan wants nothing more than to make people feel isolated, because if people are alone, they tend to indulge in negative thoughts and ideas, Maggio said. "If he can isolate us from church and loving godly friends, we begin to see the glass as half-empty," Maggio cautioned.
