I agree with Johnnz in that certain incidents in your past could be causing or contributing to your loneliness today. For example, maybe someone hurt you physically when you were a child and made it hard for you to trust anyone now, or maybe something someone said about you in the past you made you feel undeserving of love and friendship and so you subconsciously shrink from friendship. I've gone through that because of past hurts. I had acquaintances but not really friends I could feel close to for periods of time. After addressing some of the underlying problems (like the abuse I was subjected to as a child), I came to understand that some people had tried to get close to me, but I always subconsciously pushed them away because I was afraid if they really got to know me they might either hurt me or discover that I wasn't worth knowing. I had so many failed relationships with family members that I just couldn't risk any more pain from people I didn't have to associate with. If there is something you think might have affected you in this way, you can always PM me and talk with me privately.
There have been times in my life when I asked God to send me a true Christian friend that I could trust completely, and there were times He answered that prayer better than I could have imagined. Some came from church, some from school, some from work, some just from walking around the neighborhood. Some were my age, and some were way older or younger. All were Christians. Sometimes you have to look beyond barriers like age and denomination to see what God has for you. Then after several years that particular friend would move away and I would be lonely again for human companionship and I would pray again for a friend. There have been times when God answered that prayer for a friend by sending me an email friend or a CF friend to talk to. God knows we have an innate need for human companionship too. That's why He created the church, for us to have others to lean on who share our beliefs. But there have also been times when God refused to have a good friend available for me to talk to. Looking back, I've realized that those were the times when I actually got so lonely that I had to start thinking about and confronting the issues that I needed to confront deep down in my subconsciousness, like the abuse I went through. Those were the times when I had nothing else to block out those memories and bad feelings, like a friend whom I could joke with and just cover up or block out my feelings. During that time, I eventually got to know Jesus as my best friend again. And He's the most important friend to have. Sometimes even though we know He's always there for us, we don't get to know Him on as personal a level as Jesus wants us to know Him because we are too busy focusing on other friendships or jobs or family etc. ALthough He did know the exact time to let me be lonely (so that I would seek after Him more fully and start to get some emotional and spiritual issues in my life resolved finally in my quiet times with Him), God always knew the exact time to let true Christian friends lift me up and bring me to counselors or pastors who could help me or help direct me to those Christian professionals who could.
So my best suggestion is to ask Jesus to show you if there is anything in your life that He needs to help you resolve (even things you might not remember consciously right now), ask Him to be your best friend right now, and ask Him to surround you with people who can help support you spiritually and emotionally while you go through this lonely time. Ask Him for a true Christian friend or two that you will feel comfortable getting close to. THen remember to look both inside and outside of your particular church because God may give you the opportunity to be friends with a Christian that you least expect to be good friends with. Lastly, remember that you have to be a friend to have friends. Ask God to show you how to be more friendly, caring, and outgoing to people throughout your average day, even in places like the grocery store. If you are shy, ask Jesus to help you talk to people more, etc. I used to be so shy I wouldn't talk to people most of the time. Now God has changed me so much that most people can't get me to shut up!
The bottom line is that God knows exactly what you need at just this time. He is never early and never late. Don't worry, but just give your cares openly over to Jesus. Pour out your heart to Him about whatever you feel and need. While He's being a friend to you and listening as long as you need to talk to Him, I guarantee He'll also be working on your behalf to give you just what He (with His perfect insight) knows you need. Meanwhile, if you need a friend on CF, I'm here for you.
