“I will never leave you or abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5b, CSB)
There are many kinds of loneliness. Some are welcomed, like the quiet peace of solitude before the sun rises and the day starts. But most loneliness is painful. Perhaps we feel the burn of being invisible, unvalued, unwanted, or discarded. And then there is the sharp pain of loss that forces us into a season of loneliness. And in those feelings is buried the feeling that God has abandoned us.
There are many promises touching our loneliness. One such is, “God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.” (Psalm 68:6, NIV84) One such family is the fellowship of believers. This is more than just showing up at Sunday Service. We can be just as alone in a crowd as we are when no one is around. This is the fellowship, the connectedness with other believers who share life. One such example is the friendships born in small-group gatherings.
Most of the promises about this, however, reveal that God is with us even in our loneliness. He is the friend that is closer than a brother ( Proverbs 18:24). His presence is with us regardless of our circumstances.
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” (Psalm 139:7–11, NIV84)
Maybe a relationship with God is the last thing you desire. Perhaps you blame God for a loss in your life or something evil that came your way. While God is perfect and sinless, we sometimes need to forgive Him for the offenses we feel before moving forward. “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8, CSB) Often, the first step out of loneliness is forgiveness.
Other verses for this promise (Compiled by David Wilkerson)
- Hebrews 13:5
- Isaiah 54:10
- 1 John 1:3
- Proverbs 18:24
- Revelation 3:20
- James 4:8
- Psalm 16:8
- Exodus 33:14
- Jeremiah 31:3
- Psalm 94:14
- Isaiah 42:6
- Isaiah 42:16
- Psalm 37:28
- John 10:10
- Psalm 27:10
- John 14:18
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