Never Alone, Yet Still Impacted By The Epidemic Of Loneliness
Note: What we have here is Scripture, the blue/purple font in the image or the italics in the printed text (and lyrics when included and not otherwise noted) is written by Zeb of Virginia Beach Church and the other black text is AI generated.
Welcome to today’s Daily Redemption — where we hold the sacred tension that Jesus never leaves us, yet loneliness still visits — and discover why His presence doesn’t erase our humanity, but redeems it.
Opening Worshipful Lyrics by Zeb of Virginia Beach Church
from his song “He Restoreth My Soul”
He restoreth my soul by the still waters
He restoreth my soul in the green pastures
He restoreth my soul I shall fear no evil
He restoreth my soul I shall not want
When the darkness has fallen
When Through the valley I roam
Still My cup runneth over
Still I am home
I shall fear no evil For He is with me
I shall fear no evil He comforts me
I shall fear no evil Nor enemies
He prepares a table He annointed me
Featured Scripture and Commentary
*Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”*
Loneliness has reached alarming epidemic proportions in the USA today. Yet it is all but taboo to discuss it. And if one is truly feeling lonely they may not have even one human friend with which to discuss these feelings and if they did maybe they wouldn’t feel lonely. Somehow a hypnotic mesmerizing screen and a real computer program with artificial personality does not seem to cut the mustard for most people. Statistically approximately 50% adults report experiences of loneliness, according to a U.S. Surgeon General advisory. Declared a public health crisis, the still-young (18-24), are estimated at 60-80% confessing experiences of loneliness. This is compared in terms of health as equal to smoking 15 cigs/day!
In the Bible experience aloneness and sad solitude is felt and admitted to, confessed and lamented by Jeremiah, Elijah, Paul, David and others. Even Jesus laments feeling forsaken (echoing Psalm 22) on the Cross and in the Garden at Gethsemane. Jeremiah was isolated because he obeyed God. “I never sat in the company of revelers… because your hand was on me” (Jeremiah 15:17) Jesus was abandoned because He carried our sin. None amongst the human Biblical characters are so helpful as David for the as he continues to reach out to the lonely, aching, afflicted, tormented moments we all experience and for those who wear it as a flag. In fact, as Israel often continues to stand alone and tormented amongst nations one feels that perhaps the Star of David on their flag is more or less both a daily confession and prophesy. And yet none are more effusively joyous and deeply celebratory and appreciative as David for God’s love and support. If you feel lonely and need to commiserate, a better choice than to become a barfly and join the ship of fools drinking themselves to oblivion and possibly going home in sin with another such barfly (sin loves company and it quickly multiplies as a slippery slope) is to read the Davidic Psalms in the solitude of it all. God is with you as you read His Word. You won’t find him hangin’ at O’Heany’s unless he is locked in on one or more souls beckoning them on to a more righteous life. Even there He cannot be buried in the sin at such a location but just make Himself available to anyone who might pop out of the muck and mire and seek salvation. What is interesting is how few saints will dive into such an environment in hopes of being a faithful, evangelical servant of the Lord.
There is only one thing that has any efficacy at all in freeing us from the sad grip of loneliness and that is the 2nd commandment of the two proclaimed and prescribed by Jesus – to love they neighbor as thyself. This, Jesus says, is like the first, which is to love the Lord with all we’ve got. If you are not doing the first then the second quickly denigrates into something else righteous. Most bars, the only sign of Jesus is the sports player on the 100inch TV (one of a dozen or more in 1000sq ft) who is thanking God for his good fortune in his performance in the game. God knows the score. Doesn’t need us to celebrate our pride of accomplishment in His name but will appreciate the sincere. It is said that Aaron Judge’s favorite quote is the one about walking in faith, not by sight. Speaking of which, some of the most lonely people are amongst the most famous because of the emptiness of the adulation.
There is one other which is prescribed by Apostle Paul… pray always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. If you can do that you may find yourself feeling less lonely. Blessings to you.
Homily:
You can be surrounded by God’s presence — and still feel lonely.
This isn’t faith failure. It’s human reality. Jesus promised *”I am with you always”* (Matthew 28:20) — not *”You will never feel alone.”* There’s a difference.
Loneliness is the ache of unmet connection. Aloneness is actual abandonment. Jesus rescues us from the latter — not by instantly curing the former, but by entering it with us.
He wept at Lazarus’ tomb surrounded by friends (John 11:35).
He cried *”My God, why have You forsaken Me?”* while the Father held Him (Mark 15:34).
He sweat blood in Gethsemane — surrounded by sleeping disciples and a present Father (Luke 22:44).
His presence doesn’t vaporize loneliness. It sanctifies it. It means your ache is held. Your tears are seen. Your silent room is not empty — He is there, not as a replacement for human connection, but as the One who meets you *within* the longing.
You are never alone.
You may still feel lonely.
Both can be true — and in that tension, grace grows deeper roots.
Scripture:
*Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”*
*Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.*
*2 Corinthians 4:8–9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.*
*Matthew 28:20 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.*
Prayer:
Lord, I feel lonely today — and I’m afraid that means I’ve lost You. Forgive me. Remind me: Your presence isn’t measured by my emotional temperature. You were with Jesus in Gethsemane — not by removing the cup, but by holding Him through it. Hold me now. Let my loneliness drive me deeper into Your nearness — not as proof You’re gone, but as holy ground where I learn to need You more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DR, NeverAloneLonely, Hebrews13, Psalm23, DailyRedemption, GodsPresence, HolyLonging, WithYouAlways
#DailyRedemption #NeverAloneLonely #Hebrews13 #Psalm23 #GodsPresence #HolyLonging #WithYouAlways #BibleDevotional #SacredTension
Why do believers feel lonely even when Jesus promises He’ll never leave us? In this Daily Redemption reflection, hold the sacred tension: His presence doesn’t erase human longing — it sanctifies it. Rooted in Hebrews 13:5 and Psalm 23:4, this piece offers honest hope for the lonely heart that still knows it’s held. Visit theholygospel.net for more devotionals and original worship music by Zeb of Virginia Beach Church. If this met you in your loneliness today, share it with someone who needs to know they’re held — even in the ache. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
