What Is God’s Heart on Loneliness?
When God created the world, He said it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Even though Adam enjoyed perfect fellowship with God, the Lord still declared that it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). We are made for relationship with God and for relationship with one another.
But in our broken world, at various times in our lives, we will all experience the pain of loneliness. It might be due to a break-up, a divorce, an illness, job loss, strained relationship, death of a loved one, or seemingly for no reason at all. There are times when even though we are around people every day . . . we just feel alone, unconnected from everyone. There are times when we will feel like the psalmist, “I am lonely and afflicted” (Psalm 25:16).
The Lord understands the pain of loneliness and isolation. In His final moments on the cross, the Bible records, “Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mark 15:34). Jesus experienced loneliness and isolation on the cross so we could be in a restored relationship with God and never be truly alone.
When we feel lonely, God meets with us. One of the Lord’s most comforting and frequent reminders to us is simply this . . .
“I am with you.” (IsaIah 41:10)
God is always with you. “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (matthew 28:20).
God will never leave you. “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
God says it is not good to be alone. “When we feel lonely, God meets with us.” “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’” (Genesis 2:18).
God wants you to turn to Him when you’re lonely to find grace. “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish” (Psalm 25:16–17).
God calls you into relationship with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).
God gives you His Spirit to be with you and live in you. “The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).
God wants you to be involved in a local church for fellowship and spiritual growth. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).
God reveals the value of relationships. “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 NLT).
God gives us family and friendships to protect against loneliness. “God sets the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6).
God wants you to pursue meaningful friendships. “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17 nlt).
God wants you to reach out to others who feel burdened and alone. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
God promises to be with His people forever in heaven. “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever’” (Revelation 21:3–4 NLT).
