Over the years, I’ve encouraged and prayed for many battling loneliness for various reasons: nursing home residents whose family members don’t visit, the widow who spends her days outside so as not to be alone in her empty house, ministry leaders who don’t have anyone to confide in, and homeless people who feel ignored and alone.
Loneliness can strike anyone at any time. Isolating during the pandemic unfortunately, only compounded those feelings of loneliness for many. The US Surgeon General released an advisory in May 2023 alerting the public about the epidemic of loneliness. About half of U.S. adults say they’ve experienced loneliness, which can be as deadly as smoking a dozen cigarettes daily, according to the advisory.
When Moses was getting ready to pass the torch to his successor Joshua, he wanted to make sure the Israelites knew they wouldn’t be facing any battles alone as they entered the promised land: “Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). He also reminded their new leader, Joshua, that “the Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (v. 8).
And he concluded with words that can encourage us today. “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (v. 8).
When we’re facing loneliness, let’s take comfort in knowing that God will never leave or forsake us.