Loneliness can creep into your life.
Sometimes it follows a loss or a change you weren’t prepared for.
Other times, nothing earth-shaking has happened.
But you feel lonely.
Maybe people who once filled your days aren’t around as much as they used to be.
You feel forgotten and start to think perhaps God has forgotten you as well.
This is when you need to stand on God’s promises.
The Bible has a great deal to say about loneliness.
Scripture introduces us to people who felt forgotten, abandoned, frightened, and alone.
And God met them where they were and comforted them.
What Does the Bible Say About Feeling Lonely?
The Bible tells us that when you feel abandoned, God has not forgotten you.
In Isaiah 49:15-16, God specifically tells you that you are not forgotten.
Quite the opposite. He says that He has engraved you on the palms of His hands.
Think about those words for a moment.
He has engraved you on the palms of His hands!
So how can He possibly forget you?
Stand on this truth rather than on how you feel.
Because loneliness can make you feel forgotten.
Loneliness can make you feel sad.
And loneliness can make you feel as if you’re all alone.
But feelings don’t always tell us the whole truth.
God says you are not forgotten.
When you feel alone, forgotten, or invisible, hold on to the promise in Isaiah: God has not forgotten you.
What Can You Do When You Feel Lonely?
When you feel lonely, talk to God about it.
You don’t need to hide how you feel or find the perfect words.
He wants you to come to Him.
Tell Him what’s on your heart. David did this throughout the Psalms, bringing his sadness, fears, and loneliness directly to God.
Then remind yourself of God’s promises.
Your feelings may tell you that you’re alone or forgotten, but Jesus tells you otherwise.
In Matthew 28:20, He reassures us, “Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Loneliness can make you want to pull away. Instead, reach out to someone.
Make a phone call.
Meet a friend for coffee. And if no one is available, consider going anyway. Simply being around other people can help you feel less isolated.
Stay a few extra minutes after church and talk with someone.
We all need human connection and reassurance.
Sometimes even one small step can make the day feel a little less lonely.
A Prayer for When You Feel Lonely
Lord,
You know when I feel lonely, forgotten, or unseen.
Help me remember that You see me and that You have promised never to forget me. When my feelings tell me otherwise, bring me back to the truth of Your Word.
Help me recognize Your presence today, and give me the courage to reach out to others instead of withdrawing.
Thank You for loving me, remembering me, and always being near.
Amen.
You Are Not Forgotten
There will be days when loneliness feels heavier than others.
When those days come, remember the promise God gave us in Isaiah 49:15-16.
He sees you. He knows you. And He has not forgotten you.
You are so precious to Him that He has engraved you on the palms of His hands.
When you feel alone, hold on to that truth:
You are not forgotten.
Verses to Live By: When You Feel Lonely
When loneliness weighs on your heart, return to these promises from God’s Word. Read them slowly. Pray over them. Keep them somewhere you can see them and remember: you are never forgotten by God.
Isaiah 49:15–16
“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Yes, these may forget,
yet I will not forget you!
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.
Your walls are continually before me.”
Psalm 25:16
“Turn to me, and have mercy on me,
for I am desolate and afflicted.”
Psalm 34:18
“Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart,
and saves those who have a crushed spirit.”
Isaiah 41:10
“Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
Yes, I will help you.
Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.”
John 14:18
“I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.”
Hebrews 13:5
“Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, ‘I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.’”
When you feel alone, forgotten, or unseen, come back to these words. God sees you. God is near. And God has promised that He will not leave you.