If you would like to contact Irwin, find him on: Instagram @mrharbourbreeze  Facebook @IrwinHarder  email at irwin.harder@mytwu.ca    The Loneliness Project Podcast - Episode 4 Show Notes Episode Title: Never Forsaken: God’s Answer to Loneliness Welcome Back!Welcome back to The Loneliness Project, a podcast dedicated to overcoming loneliness as we enter our later years. This is part 4 of the series, titled Never Forsaken: God’s Answer to Loneliness. Before we dive in, I want to express my deep gratitude to you, the listener. Many of you have journeyed with me through all four episodes, and I truly appreciate it. A special thanks to those who have engaged with the reflection questions or reached out with messages. Your responses have been insightful, encouraging, and even humorous at times! Recap of Previous Episodes Part 1: Defined loneliness vs. solitude. Part 2: Examined loneliness in end-of-life issues, including dementia. Part 3: Explored practical ways to combat loneliness. I hope you’ve found ways to bring more joy into your days—laughter is a powerful antidote to loneliness! Key Assumptions Throughout This Series Intended Audience: This series is for those contemplating the aging process, whether they are experiencing it now or preparing for it. It is also for those looking to support lonely older adults. Personal Choice in Loneliness: While loneliness can be complex, there are often choices we can make to mitigate it. A listener shared, “I needed to reach out to the church and find a Bible study we could join. You can't sit at home and expect anything to change.” The Value of Solitude: History shows that chosen solitude can be transformative. Biblical figures like David, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Jesus spent significant time alone with God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wisely noted, “None of us can afford solitude if we do not live in community, nor can we have real community without solitude.” God’s Interest in Our Lives: God deeply cares for the lonely, the fatherless, and the widowed. Psalm 68:5-6 reminds us, “God is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows… He sets the lonely in families.” God’s Presence in LonelinessA friend recently reminded me of a profound truth: “The beauty of the Christian faith is that we are never really alone. God is with us, and abiding in Him is the first and most powerful antidote to loneliness.” From the beginning, God declared that it is not good for us to be alone. Throughout scripture, His messages are often addressed to communities, emphasizing the importance of relationships. God also champions the underdog—foreigners, widows, and orphans. Isaiah 46:4 provides reassurance: “Even when you are old, I will take care of you; even when you have gray hair, I will carry you.” For those of us who claim to follow God, this means we are called to love and care for the lonely among us. Personal Story: Trusting in God’s PresenceIn my own life, I’ve experienced profound isolation and loneliness. During one particularly difficult season, I cried out to God in frustration. As I looked out at a mountain, I felt His response in three simple words: “I’ve got this.” Years later, I see how God was indeed in control. Even in the storm, He was present. This truth extends to all of us—whether facing personal loneliness or the uncertainty of our times, we can trust that God “has got this.” The Loneliness of Jesus & The Hope of the CrossJesus understands loneliness. He was abandoned by His closest friends at His most critical moment, crying out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” Yet, His story did not end on the cross. The resurrection brings hope—a powerful antidote to loneliness. As my chaplaincy professor, Dr. Gloria Woodland, put it:“The contradiction of the cross and resurrection is hope. The cross represents aloneness… The Resurrection means that the future will not be alone and that no one will be forsaken. Christ is our hope.” Closing ThoughtsI recently heard