Growing up in the 1960s (one of the best music eras ever!) I recall a song by 3 Dog Night entitled “One is the Loneliest Number.” The lyrics say: “One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do; two can be as bad as one, it’s the loneliest number since the number one.”

As someone who went through an unwanted divorce 27 years ago—and I’m still single today—I have run the gamut of emotions that loneliness brings; and oh, how the enemy of our souls loves to taunt and torture us when we feel alone.

In that same decade of great music, Barbara Streisand had a hit song: “People Who Need People” proclaiming that they are the luckiest people in the world!

Praise God for the truth of His word that confirms how vitally we need one another! As I walked with Jesus along the path of healing all those years ago, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 became a profound passage in my life. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not easily broken.”

This scripture shined a spotlight in my dark room of isolation and loneliness, as the Lord showed me the need and reward of forming Godly friendships, iron that sharpens iron. Ones who help share our burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ. At that time of my divorce, my circle of friends was small. But as I faithfully attended church, joined service teams, participated in Bible Studies and Growth Groups, reached out to purposely develop new relationships, the Lord blossomed beautiful friendships in my life!

And how I love the truth of the cord of three, which cannot be broken. That third strand represents our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For in every relationship, He is the strand that binds us together to love graciously, to forgive compassionately, to care for one another humbly and selflessly.

A wise pastor once used the analogy of briquets on a grill regarding the importance of people in our lives. What do we do when we light the charcoal, to get it to burn completely and brightly? We pile all the briquets together. Take one away from the fire, set it off alone, and what happens? Yes, it dies out. The light burns out. God created us for relationship—first to love Him with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength; and then to be like Jesus in laying down our lives for others, in loving one another as He loves us.

COVID 19 certainly has the capacity to make us feel like we are that one lone briquet. But that is a lie. The truth is, as part of God’s family, we belong, we have a secure place and purpose, and we are loved beyond measure.

I invite you to join me in being creative in reaching out to strengthen your friendships and relationships, to even make new ones during this time. Let’s take a plate of cookies to a neighbor, make a call to someone who needs a friend, send a prayer text to one who may be struggling, write a card or note for someone to get in their mailbox, start a monthly girlfriend gathering on Zoom; pray for the Holy Spirit to show you who needs some extra love and care. The possibilities are endless; and the rewards are bountiful.

Proverbs 11:25 promises that the generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Let’s rejoice that we need not fear that one is the loneliest number, for we are people who need people, we know that two are better than one, Jesus is our strengthening strand, and what a privilege and delight to care for one another in His name.

God bless you today as you touch someone’s life with His love!