Alone, But Not Alone

A compilation

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When you are alone and lonely, it is easy to believe that a spouse, or family, or church family will drive loneliness away. Yet even the best moments of marriage and parenting and friendship always lack something; the moment of harmony passes too quickly. The warm feelings of care slip away. Human relationships ebb and flow. Even at their best, we sense that something is missing.

We should be glad to realize that the best of this life leaves us wanting something more, longer, and better. As wonderful as these earthly gifts are, the fact that they don’t satisfy makes God’s promises to fully satisfy us forever even more astounding. It means our joy in Him and each other will be better, deeper, and yes, happier (Philippians 1:23). Every loneliness on earth is an internal confirmation that our greatest relational joys lie ahead of us. Absence should make the heart look forward.

This doesn’t blunt the pain of loneliness, but it does assure us that this pain is part of the fleeting and temporary world that is passing away (1 Peter 1:24–25). Our future is completely free of loneliness and filled with relational fullness far beyond what we can imagine. The next time loneliness shows up, thank God that your loneliness powerfully reminds you of the glory of what lies ahead for you with Him.—Steve DeWitt¹

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It is both ironic and tragic that in a time where we are more connected technologically than ever, we also see some of the highest recorded rates of loneliness in history. Loneliness is not about being with people—we can feel lonely surrounded by others and not feel lonely when we are alone. Loneliness is an emotional state in which we feel isolated or completely alone in the world. And though it seems this emotional state is becoming more commonly chronic, loneliness itself is not a new phenomenon. Throughout Scripture, we see the importance of companionship, friendship, and fellowship. People were built for relationship—with both God and one another. Although relationships are not perfect this side of heaven, they can be restored, established, and strengthened by the grace of God.

From the Old Testament:

• The first mention of loneliness is found in Genesis 2:18, where God states that it is not good that man should be alone. God’s remedy for Adam’s loneliness was the creation of Eve and the institution of marriage (Genesis 2:21–24). God provided Adam with a companion—a helpmate also made in the image of God—to join him in life.
• When Adam and Eve sinned, relationships broke down. Not only was humanity separated from God, but human relationships were also damaged (Genesis 3:16, 24).
• Even as God pronounced the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin, He also granted hope: the protoevangelium (Genesis 3:15). This hope was the promise of a Savior, who would defeat Satan and restore peace between God and mankind.
• From the New Testament:
• The Savior promised in the garden is Jesus Christ, and He is the only true and lasting remedy for loneliness (2 Corinthians 5:18–21).
• Jesus laid down His life for His friends (John 15:13–15).
• In Jesus, we are never isolated or alone. Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to live inside us and be with us forever (John 14:15–17). God promises that He is with us always (Matthew 28:20).
• Through God’s work, we are also reconciled to other people (Ephesians 2:11–22).
• Having received the Spirit of God and the example of Christ, we learn to put pride aside and seek to meet the needs of others and not ourselves only (Philippians 2:3–8).
• God has put us in families to practice loving and serving others. As husbands and wives grow in their love for and service to Jesus Christ, they learn to love and serve one another (Ephesians 5:22–25). Likewise, children learn loving submission to parents, and parents learn not to exasperate their children (Ephesians 6:1–4). Restored relationships functioning in mutual submission mean less loneliness.
• As believers in Christ, we’ve joined God’s vast spiritual family, far greater than any natural one. While loyalty to Christ may cause tension with our earthly families, God more than compensates, both now and eternally (Matthew 19:29). In this family, no one needs to be lonely—we can love and value one another.

If you are feeling lonely, ask yourself if you have been reconciled to God by believing in Jesus Christ. If you have, then remind yourself of the promise that God has made to you, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus, who died for you, has gone to prepare a place for you where you will dwell with Him and all who belong to Him eternally (John 14:1–3). In the meantime, He has given us His Spirit to dwell within us, teach us, and comfort us (John 14:16–18). No believer in Christ is ever truly alone.

Regarding human relationships, we must ask what we are doing about our loneliness. There is no reason to despair. God has given us opportunities to reach out to people, express how we are feeling, and seek to love and serve well. Loneliness is very real, but we can combat it by living the way God calls us to live: in real community with others. That requires us to do something about it, but we have God’s strength to do it.—CompellingTruth.org²

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In the tempestuous, stormy moments of our lives, it’s easy to feel alone. We often focus so intently on finding a way of escape or rescue that we altogether forget about the most reliable and true source of companionship, shelter, and refuge.

Last night, sleep seemed to totally elude me. I had been facing a low moment of discouragement, doubt, and frustration. I was restless in both mind and body.

It was raining fairly hard outside. Although in the physical I was sheltered, warm, and dry inside the house, my spirit felt the exact opposite. The rain outside seemed to pour in unison with the ongoing difficulties I’ve been facing for a while. Inside, I felt alone, exposed and unprotected from the cold winds, soaked to the bone and drenched by the rain that seemed would never stop.

I was quickly losing my grip on hope, and my faith was flickering low. I told God that I wanted with all my heart to hang on and be faithful, but that this would only be possible with His help. I was led to listen to the song “Hiding Place,” by Steven Curtis Chapman.

I listened to the song, not expecting much. Yet, each word seemed to hit the spot like a cup of hot coffee on a cold, rainy day, or like the sensation one feels when coming in from the winter cold to a warm embrace.

I’m not asking You to take away my troubles, Lord.
’Cause it’s through the stormy weather I learn to trust You more.
But I thank You for the promise that I have come to know.
Your unfailing love surrounds me when I need it most.
You’re my hiding place,
Safe in Your embrace,
I’m protected from the storm that rages.
When the waters rise,
And we run to hide,
Lord, in You we find our hiding place.

As the song continued to play, God spoke to me. Are you taking shelter in My promises and My love for you? I am with you, I will never leave you. Let Me be the refuge and shelter I promised to be for you until the storm runs its course.

With these words came flooding back promises I have known for as long as I can remember:

“I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed” (Psalm 57:1).

“The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you” (Deuteronomy 33:27).

“Since God assured us, ‘I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,’ we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what” (Hebrews 13:5–6).

With this renewed perspective, I can now fully trust and rest in Jesus to be my refuge and shelter and constant companion for as long as the storm lasts.—Steve Hearts

Published on Anchor October 2025. Read by John Laurence. Music by John Listen.

https://anchor.tfionline.com/post/alone-but-not-alone/

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¹ Steve DeWitt, “Loneliness Has Been My Faithful Friend,” Desiring God, May 17, 2020, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/loneliness-has-been-my-faithful-friend

² Compelling Truth, “Does the Bible say anything about loneliness?” https://www.compellingtruth.org/Bible-loneliness.html