Losing friendships and Matt 24:12

[timechangers]

In tbe last 5 years I have noticed people in my peer group at church (early 50's agewise) have been more distant. We used to get together for potlucks, Bible study and hang out at times. People don't keep their potluck dates anymore. There is no longer any Bible study for my peers. At church only 2 people in my peer group ask me any questions. I am the one that asks the questions or they walk by me without saying anything. This year in 2025, my good friend forgets dates in my life and I am the one to typically initiate communication. Are other people finding this, especially those in their 50's. I feel invisible at times. Is this a spiritual battle or just what happens in the age range of 47 to 55?

 

[Delvianna]

It sounds like people in general are getting depressed, discouraged and the fire for the Lord they once had is dying. Maybe you should talk to them or to the Leadership of the church to reach out and see if anyone can help with anything. Sometimes we need others to be encouragement and sometimes people need a reminder that they need others to stay encouraged.

While I'm 39 and not in your age bracket or noticed the exact same thing you have, I've noticed in general that peoples faith within my age bracket is very limited as people in general seem to not be too interested in studying the bible. Also, I just hear complaints about the state of the economy or the world and when you tend to be in that kind of mind set, the thought of get-togethers is just further from your mind. So maybe reach out and see why they've decided to pull back or if you don't have their number, reach out to a leader of the church and see if someone can reach out in general to see how people are doing. That might help.

Either way, I'm sorry to hear this is your experience and I hope something changes for you.

 

[timechangers]

It sounds like people in general are getting depressed, discouraged and the fire for the Lord they once had is dying. Maybe you should talk to them or to the Leadership of the church to reach out and see if anyone can help with anything. Sometimes we need others to be encouragement and sometimes people need a reminder that they need others to stay encouraged.

While I'm 39 and not in your age bracket or noticed the exact same thing you have, I've noticed in general that peoples faith within my age bracket is very limited as people in general seem to not be too interested in studying the bible. Also, I just hear complaints about the state of the economy or the world and when you tend to be in that kind of mind set, the thought of get-togethers is just further from your mind. So maybe reach out and see why they've decided to pull back or if you don't have their number, reach out to a leader of the church and see if someone can reach out in general to see how people are doing. That might help.

Either way, I'm sorry to hear this is your experience and I hope something changes for you.

Thanks for the reply and thoughtful response. I did send a text to one of the guys in my potluck yesterday telling him I hope all is okay and he did respond that we need to catch up. I need to not give up on people even though I feel like just not talking to people if they don't want to ask me anything. That's not a good attitude on my part. Only 1 leper went back to thank Jesus for healing him so I need to be a thankful person like that leper was regardless if I have friends or if nobody asks me anything. I do have a younger 20 something year old church member who I meet with once a quarter to mentor and read the Bible with. I just wish someone my own age would want to have a Bible Study with me and pray for me or that someone in church would ask me what they could pray for me about. I tell others I will pray for them on different situations brought up during a conversation with them but they don't return the favor by asking what they could pray for me on. I just don't understand. Maybe spiritual warfare or people just don't care or both.

 

[Delvianna]

Thanks for the reply and thoughtful response. I did send a text to one of the guys in my potluck yesterday telling him I hope all is okay and he did respond that we need to catch up. I need to not give up on people even though I feel like just not talking to people if they don't want to ask me anything. That's not a good attitude on my part. Only 1 leper went back to thank Jesus for healing him so I need to be a thankful person like that leper was regardless if I have friends or if nobody asks me anything. I do have a younger 20 something year old church member who I meet with once a quarter to mentor and read the Bible with. I just wish someone my own age would want to have a Bible Study with me and pray for me or that someone in church would ask me what they could pray for me about. I tell others I will pray for them on different situations brought up during a conversation with them but they don't return the favor by asking what they could pray for me on. I just don't understand. Maybe spiritual warfare or people just don't care or both.

I understand what you mean. I don't have anyone to bible study with either really because people aren't interested. They watch youtube sermons and they act like they're well versed in scripture and when you correct them, they get bent out of shape about it. It's hard to always be the one reaching out, or interested in others and without that return, it makes you want to walk away. But listen, don't chase after people who are clearly not interested. You are well within your right to not burn yourself out on others and not get poured into too. You can't pour out to them from an empty glass. Do what you can, but also cut yourself some slack. Reach out, be there for them as we are called to be, but only when you feel you are emotionally able to and in the mean time, pray that God sends you someone that you can connect with on a spiritual level also.

Have you tried other churches in your area? Maybe you might meet someone somewhere else.

 

[timechangers]

I understand what you mean. I don't have anyone to bible study with either really because people aren't interested. They watch youtube sermons and they act like they're well versed in scripture and when you correct them, they get bent out of shape about it. It's hard to always be the one reaching out, or interested in others and without that return, it makes you want to walk away. But listen, don't chase after people who are clearly not interested. You are well within your right to not burn yourself out on others and not get poured into too. You can't pour out to them from an empty glass. Do what you can, but also cut yourself some slack. Reach out, be there for them as we are called to be, but only when you feel you are emotionally able to and in the mean time, pray that God sends you someone that you can connect with on a spiritual level also.

Have you tried other churches in your area? Maybe you might meet someone somewhere else.

I live in a small town of around 1,000 people and I go to the same church that I was born into as a baby. If I left it would be really hard. My wife and kids go to the church also. I will pray for the Lord to send someone in my life that wants to have Bible study with me. I need to maybe just focus on going to church to worship and that way when people seem to look through me without saying or asking anything about me it won't bother me as much.

I understand what you mean. I don't have anyone to bible study with either really because people aren't interested. They watch youtube sermons and they act like they're well versed in scripture and when you correct them, they get bent out of shape about it. It's hard to always be the one reaching out, or interested in others and without that return, it makes you want to walk away. But listen, don't chase after people who are clearly not interested. You are well within your right to not burn yourself out on others and not get poured into too. You can't pour out to them from an empty glass. Do what you can, but also cut yourself some slack. Reach out, be there for them as we are called to be, but only when you feel you are emotionally able to and in the mean time, pray that God sends you someone that you can connect with on a spiritual level also.

Have you tried other churches in your area? Maybe you might meet someone somewhere else.

I understand what you mean. I don't have anyone to bible study with either really because people aren't interested. They watch youtube sermons and they act like they're well versed in scripture and when you correct them, they get bent out of shape about it. It's hard to always be the one reaching out, or interested in others and without that return, it makes you want to walk away. But listen, don't chase after people who are clearly not interested. You are well within your right to not burn yourself out on others and not get poured into too. You can't pour out to them from an empty glass. Do what you can, but also cut yourself some slack. Reach out, be there for them as we are called to be, but only when you feel you are emotionally able to and in the mean time, pray that God sends you someone that you can connect with on a spiritual level also.

Have you tried other churches in your area? Maybe you might meet someone somewhere else.

I haven't tried other churches since it is the same church I have attended my whole 51 years of my life. It is a small town of about 1,000 people. My wife and kids attend the church also and I would feel bad pulling my kids from junior high/high school Sunday school. I appreciate your thoughts. I think moving forward I will lower my expectations. I will not expect people to pray for me or follow up with me on personal things. I will show love but focus more on worship than on friendships. I will pray for someone who will want to pray for me and have Bible study with me(that could be from another church or online). Thanks for replying to my thread. I greatly appreciate that.