Loneliness

The Bible contains many examples of Scriptural loneliness. David was well-acquainted with it. Several Psalms can be found expressing his loneliness, like Psalm 25:16-21: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress” (25:16-17, NRSV). 

God’s prophets often suffered deep loneliness as they were rejected and abused for what they were saying. Jeremiah was instructed not to marry. He had few friends and is often called the “weeping prophet” by Bible scholars.  

Even Jesus must have felt lonely after 40 days of fasting in the wilderness. 

But God has answers for loneliness. He often makes deep connections with believers who reach out to Him in their time of need. He doesn’t expect us to be impervious to tough feelings, He simply asks us to reach out to Him and trust Him when these feelings overcome us. 

First Peter 5:6-7 (ESV) says “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so, we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 John 3:1, ESV) 

Loneliness is an unpleasant emotion that often coincides with isolation. And it’s not just physical isolation. It can be the social pain that comes from being in a group of people who all seem to have something in common — except for you.