L.O.N.E.L.Y.: Never Say Never
Reading Time: 5 minutes
In light of how loneliness can feel like a long, unending road, it’s important to remember that everything can change in a moment. As believers, we are called to live with expectation, knowing that God’s sovereignty covers every season of our lives. Just as He chose the day of our salvation, He is also the author and perfecter of our faith, writing our story from beginning to end.
Scripture encourages us to count it all joy when we face trials (James 1:2-3), because the testing of our faith produces character (Romans 5:3-4). While it may seem strange to rejoice in suffering, our trials prove our faith and make the unseen hope of God real to us. In hardship, God reveals Himself as King, Lord, Savior, and Holy. It’s easy to praise God when life is good, but when we trust Him in adversity, He vindicates us in ways we could never imagine. That alone is reason to rejoice.
It’s important to distinguish loneliness from isolation. Isolation is never God’s will for His children, but loneliness can be a sign that God is doing a deep work in your spirit and setting you apart for something special. While the world may tell you that loneliness means something is wrong with you, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The Bible calls us a “peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9), set apart for God’s purposes. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable to admit that our loneliness is a mark of God’s special work in us, but Scripture reminds us that God disciplines those He loves and will complete the work He began in us (Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:6).
I once believed I would always be alone in a particular struggle, but God surprised me by bringing new friends into my life who had overcome similar challenges. The gap between that wilderness and meeting these new friends was a few months, and while it was lonely and disorienting, I now see that the delay wasn’t because God’s hand wasn’t in my life.
In fact, it was the opposite. To my surprise, God was at work the whole time, intentionally leading me to the right people. Their presence reminds me never to give up hope. God sees us, hears our cries, and often uses seasons of loneliness as a hallway between where we are and where He wants us to be.
If you feel stuck in that hallway, I encourage you to reach out and pursue what God is calling you to. Step into healing with confidence, knowing God’s plans for you are good (Jeremiah 29:11). It’s easy to think loneliness will always be part of your story, but God specializes in the impossible. He brings light to the darkest places and hope to the most hopeless hearts. Never say never—God can surprise you with new beginnings, relationships, and joy. Trust that He is working, even when you can’t see it.
For nothing will be impossible with God. —Luke 1:37
Journal Prompt
Are there areas of your life where you’ve given up hope for change? Write about them, and ask God to renew your faith in His power to do the impossible.
Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I’ve doubted Your power to change my circumstances. Renew my hope and help me believe that nothing is impossible for You. Surprise me with Your goodness and love. Amen.