What do you do when you feel alone? You always have a choice to seek worldly things or godly things when you feel alone. Peter wrote that worldly desires wage war against your soul (1 Peter 2:10-11).
This means the things of this world will leave you dry and lonely. Can they temporarily make you feel good? Sure. But the “treasures” of this world are eaten by moths, destroyed by rust, and stolen by thieves (see Matthew 6:19).
When you feel alone, meditate on the things that are eternal. Think beyond what you can see, and fix your eyes on the unseen (2 Corinthians 4:8). How? By believing and submitting to God’s Word.
Did Jesus Ever Feel Alone?
Yes. Jesus felt alone, abandoned, forsaken, and rejected. There were several accounts when He withdrew from the crowds to get alone. He understood the purpose behind feeling alone and used the moments to exemplify trust, faith, spiritual maturity, and overcome spiritual warfare.
Jesus knew that the feeling of loneliness would ultimately bring victory. When He proclaimed Psalm 22:1 on the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He also recognized that this temporary feeling would fulfill a glorious end: His resurrection, ascension, and the spread of the good news.
Psalm 22 provides a process of healing when you feel alone (see below).
God’s Purpose for Allowing Loneliness
The Word says that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). It also says that when you draw near to God, He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Therefore, you can know that when you feel alone, there is a purpose behind it and a way to overcome it. And as you work through the feeling by drawing near to God, He promises that you will start to see His hand at work and feel His presence.
- Increase Trust
The feeling of loneliness is an opportunity to trust God more. It exposes where unbelief and distrust have found places to hide in your soul. God wants to bring these hidden thoughts into His light so that He can shine His mercy and power on them.
When you feel alone, ask God to show you how He uses the situation to build trust. Trusting in God puts you on a straight path (Proverbs 3:5-6).
- Draw Near to God
Feeling alone is an invitation to draw near to the Lord. Luke 5:16 says that Jesus “often withdrew into the wilderness to pray.” Sometimes He sent His disciples away so He could get alone and pray.
Elijah fled to the wilderness where it was dry, barren, and lonely. God told him to go there and hide by the brook Cherith. The brook dried up, yet it was exactly where God told him to be. Elijah, being perfectly faithful, was lonely and in the wilderness.
Three years later, he had a great victory by defeating 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah. However, after the victory, he was struck with fear and ran into the wilderness. He found himself alone once more. This time, the loneliness was driven by fear rather than faith. God, in His mercy, used both instances for good, and Elijah was transformed in his loneliness.
Clearly, loneliness has a purpose. Sometimes God takes you there, and other times it is a matter of you choosing to go there. Either way, God never wants to leave you there but rather transform you in it so you come out victorious.
- Grow in Spiritual Maturity
When you feel lonely, it is an opportunity to mature in Christ and hear God’s still small voice. When Elijah was in the lonely wilderness, He encountered God in a new way, through a still small voice.
When you are lonely, you might want God to show up in earth-shaking ways. God showed Elijah He “was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice” (1 Kings 1911-12).
In the lonely wilderness, you will want to overcome the pain and hurt. God wants you to grow in maturity by focusing on Him and quieting your heart to hear His voice. This matures you spiritually and sharpens your discerning ear to better hear Him.
- Find Victory in Spiritual Warfare
Like Elijah, Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit of God. One of the main times the enemy attacks is when you are alone. He knows if he can get you into a place of loneliness, you are vulnerable and much more likely to fall into temptation.
Jesus was tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread, exercise worldly authority, and claim earthly power and treasures. All these temptations faced Him when He was alone. Jesus warred using the Word of God to cut down the lies of the enemy. Matthew 4:11 says, “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came to minister to Him.”
When You Struggle with Loneliness, Read Psalm 22
Psalm 22 starts with a cry and a plea to resolve the struggle with loneliness and pain. It then moves into an expression of confidence in God. It goes back to listing the attacks of the enemy. Finally, it rests in hope and expectation, and David (the psalmist) declares and glorifies God’s great name publicly. He looks forward to the ultimate rule of Christ in the kingdom.
Psalm 22 Takes You Through a Process of Healing in Loneliness
David prayed the prophetic words in Psalm 22 that foreshadowed Jesus’ crucifixion. It tells of David’s loneliness and, ultimately, the loneliness Jesus experienced on the cross.
- Crying Out to God
When you are lonely, cry out to God. Crying out, “My God,” speaks to your relationship with God. David, attacked by men, did not start by complaining against man. Rather, he cried out to the One he was in relationship with and who could save.
- Remembering God’s Faithfulness
David remembered God’s greatness even in great suffering. He didn’t curse God or question God’s holiness, trustworthiness, and power to deliver even when he couldn’t see it.
- Feeling Despised
David dipped back into a pit. He felt no greater than a worm. He felt despised and mocked by people. He was without contentment and peace.
- Making a Plea
David made a plea to God for help, deliverance, and salvation. He recognized God alone was his only hope.
- Waiting for God’s Answer
David poured out his soul, loneliness, pain, and hurt to God. God answered him. He knew God was there, which made the agony bearable. He knew God had never left or forsaken him.
- Praising and Rejoicing
Finally, David praised God and commanded his brethren to praise, glorify, and fear Him too. He wanted all to remember and turn to the Lord.
10 Scriptures When You Feel Alone
Psalm 22 walks you through the emotional response when you feel lonely. The verses below are scriptures you can read, pray, and meditate on when you feel alone.
- Psalm 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
- Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
- Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
- Joshua 1:5
“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”
- Isaiah 43:2
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”
- 2 Timothy 4:16
“At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.”
- Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
- Matthew 28:20
“… teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- Romans 8:35-39
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Feeling lonely is something we have all experienced, we all go through, but God has something good in it for you. Fix your eyes on what is on the other side, and keep declaring God’s Word over your situation.
