My Loneliness Drew Me Closer to Christ

Written By River T, Malaysia

I’ve been mediocre my entire life. Coming from a family of high achievers, my achievements have always paled in comparison. And as an introverted middle child in a rather huge family, I have always struggled to voice out my feelings or opinions. Being invisible is what best describes me.

After graduating from secondary school, I came to Christ when my eldest sister brought me to church. However, the church that I attended was not able to provide me with the support I needed to grow as a new believer.

However, things changed when I went to Brisbane to study. Over there, I found a supportive community of leaders and fellow believers who helped me grow deeper in my walk with God. Their passion and commitment to the Lord and for the lost was so evident in their actions that it really inspired me to pursue God more.

While I may have been neglected or even forgotten by my community back home, the people I met in Brisbane cared for and loved me. Under their mentorship, I gradually learned to open up to and love the people around me. That was when I experienced the joy of belonging to a community of believers.

My time in Brisbane was so impactful that when I returned to Malaysia after graduation, it was difficult to adjust back to the life I had left behind. For one, I struggled to reconnect with my old friends upon returning home. While I was in Brisbane, I seldom contacted my friends back home. Furthermore, we share different interests and religious beliefs. As a result, we had drifted apart and I found it difficult to connect and share with them my struggles, especially those related to my spiritual walk.

I also felt out of place in my home church in Malaysia as I was now used to a different kind of church community and worship style—one that was warm, supportive, and passionate about discipleship. As a result, I retreated further into my shell and began to feel even lonelier.

Life back home became even more difficult when I started my first job. During my first rotation, the team that I was assigned to work in was extremely stressful. My superior was a perfectionist and had very high expectations of me. Whenever I failed to meet them, she would chastise me harshly in the presence of many. My self-confidence plummeted and I often felt incompetent at work. I would also have nightmares about my work when I realized that I had made mistakes.

I became very unhappy with my life, and my anxieties and frustrations paved the way to depression. I would experience breathing difficulties and had to frequent the toilet many times to calm myself down. Each day was agonizing and I began developing suicidal thoughts.

I couldn’t share my condition with my family because I have not been close to them since young. Neither could I seek help from my friends, colleagues, or church leaders. I resented that I had to leave behind the supportive community I had in Brisbane and yet not been able to find such support back home.

Being adrift from any form of community and support meant I had no choice but to turn to God. So I poured out my heart to God every night, spending more time with Him in prayer and in His Word. As it says in Psalm 119:92, “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”

While my circumstances did not turn around immediately, I experienced God’s comfort through His Word in my distress. His Word gave me the courage and strength to live on when I wanted to end my life—and I learned to rely only on Him.

When no one was there for me, God held me close. He was my source of strength and comfort during the most difficult and painful season of my life.

I recall having lunch alone one day and I was swarmed with endless self-deprecating thoughts.

Why did I not excel in my studies or make a name for myself in society as my family members have? As an overseas graduate, I should be excelling at my workplace but why am I failing to perform at work? Why is it so difficult for me to make friends?

I felt utterly useless and worthless but in that moment, God spoke to me through Romans 8:38-39:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I had nothing to be proud of at that time. But God assured me that I am still loved by Him, and nothing can separate me from His love.

After some time, God turned things around when I was assigned to a different team at work.

My new superior is nurturing and patient, and I have benefited greatly under her leadership. My self-confidence grew and I began to love my work rather than feeling fearful of being reprimanded as I had been under my previous supervisor. I am also closer to my new colleagues and they have been a great help to me when I meet with challenges in my work.

However, I still struggle with depression today, and I still do not have many close friends—whether at church or within my social circle. While I hope that I can one day experience the vibrant community life I had in Brisbane again, for now I’m thankful that I’m still alive and I have God’s Word to guide my life. He knows me full well and will be with me as I go through the high mountains and low valleys in my life. He is sufficient for me.

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12 replies
  1. Melissa
    Melissa says:

    Hey River, know that you are not alone. There are other people like us who don’t really belong in a community as well. I love being in a close Christian community too and I used to blame myself for not being able to fit in to belong somewhere.
    It is all praise to God that He has taught/trained me to be alone but not lonely. There are many areas to be grateful for in my life through being alone (with Christ) eg. relying on solely on Him, becoming more and more close to Him as a friends and so on.
    I do have a community of my age now (all thanks to God for opening the way and leading me to) , a community that I could share my faith and love of Christ and be encouraged. However, it is not my main priority. I will keep you in prayers and thoughts. 😀
    Really glad to hear about your work tho. 🙂 Praise God, really.
    I could go on and on but I would like to end with this.
    Take care, my beloved sibling in Christ. Please do cling on Jesus. His love and power exceeds everything you can imagine or picture and He will bring You through. He will.
    Lots & lots of love,
    From sis in Christ (Malaysia as well),
    Melissa Wan.

    Reply
  2. Sat
    Sat says:

    Your life story is same as mine . Only difference is I am still jobless . Like you my only hope is God and that’s what keeps me going. Have faith we are in the same boat .

    Reply
  3. Madeline Twooney
    Madeline Twooney says:

    River, your story really spoke to me. I also suffer from depression and have no family to talk about it with except my husband. I try and fit in my current church and make friends, but l can’t seem to connect to anyone and often feel like an outcast surrounded by the masses.
    My best friends are non-Christians and to be honest, they have offered me more friendship than most Christian people l know. We have supported each other through so many trials and we know the value of loyalty to each other.
    As an only child, l am accustomed to being without companionship. I can be alone without being lonely. So over the past few years, and especially in the last year, in a strange city and a new church, l lean on God. He is my companion, my teacher and my friend. Still, it would be nice to have some human contact too sometimes.
    Be of good courage RIver, you are not alone.

    Reply
  4. Brynner
    Brynner says:

    Your pain became a powerful testimony to us of God’s comforting presence and delivering power through the Holy Spirit. Thank you for being brave, pressing on, trusting Him and doing His work. Know that your life is truly meaningful because you have chosen to follow Him.

    Reply
  5. Valerie
    Valerie says:

    Thanks for sharing River! I too am going through a similar situation. Except I am the oldest child and why younger sisters are doing better than me. Thank you for reminding us to always lean on Christ. That His love never fails.

    P.S. I am also a fellow Malaysian but living in Gold Coast instead. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Dominic
    Dominic says:

    Resonate with you River, as I too am in this season. I’ve learnt throughout this season is that God is moulding each and everyone into who we are in His image. I hope and pray that God will provide you with people you need to follow Him closely. Ephesians 4:11-16.

    Reply
  7. Christine
    Christine says:

    Hi River, I am from Brisbane (grew up there and family still there). I attended Toowong Baptist Church but am not residing in Singapore. Pls reach out to me if you need. If possible pls share your email somehow and hopefully we can journey life together in Christ. God is the same God at the mountain tops and valley lows but notice fruit only develops in the valleys. Stand firm in your faith!

    Reply
  8. nyoka B bigsby
    nyoka B bigsby says:

    Thanks for sharing your story, it really encouraged me, I’m also going through loneliness, everything you said resonated with me

    Reply

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