Examples of loneliness in the Bible and how it relates to your current situation. 

Right now, you may be feeling like you are all alone.  Loneliness can drain the joy from your life and thoughts and feelings may crowd into your mind that you are the only one feeling like this. 

You are not alone!  There are many stories of loneliness in the Bible too.  

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that every single book of the Bible has at least one story of loneliness.  This is something that began at the very beginning of the Bible when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and made choices that separated them from His plan of connection and togetherness.  

From this beginning story, loneliness showed up in many different forms throughout the chapters of the Bible. 

Sometimes it was separation, lying, cheating, deceit, broken families, and so much more.  They prayed important prayers and God answered these prayers with acceptance, love, and support.  

Examples of Loneliness in the Bible

Let’s start with some stories of people who felt intense loneliness in the Bible.  These people had families, jobs, joys and sorrows. 

Their loneliness was present and overwhelming.  But God was with them and was able to create beautiful stories from their struggles.  

Each of these people experience separation and loneliness that affected years of their lives.  They struggled with feelings of loss of hope, overwhelm, discouragement, and separation. 

Loneliness often comes because of some type of separation from someone, something, or the loss of a dream of what a person has hoped for.  

Joseph

Joseph was adored by his father but hated by his brothers.  He was so distanced from his brothers that even though he took them food while they were working, they sold him as a slave!  

Joseph was carried off to a faraway country with no means of connecting with his family.  He had to learn a new language, new customs, new religious traditions, and work for someone as a slave.

Even though Joseph was undoubtedly filled with loneliness, Joseph chose to follow God.  He chose to do what was right when presented with temptations and God honored Joseph’s choices to follow Him.  

In the end of the story, Joseph is able to move his father’s entire family to live close to him.  What had been snatched away was returned and restored.  

Hagar

Hagar was another story of loneliness in the Bible.  As a slave, Hagar had to do whatever she was told – even sleep with her mistress’ husband.  When she became pregnant, she was despised by Sarah and ran away.    

Alone in the desert, an angel comes to Hagar and tells her to return to her mistress.  The story doesn’t end with a happy ending indicated, but Hagar named the place a special name to remind her that “you are the God who sees me”. 

Even in her loneliness, she was not invisible or overlooked by God.  (Genesis 16)

The Woman With the “Issue of Blood”

This woman wasn’t even called by her name.  She had been bleeding for years.  She was an outcast, unclean, and couldn’t be close to anyone without making them unclean.  Can you imagine how lonely and desperate she must have felt.  

There were numerous “rules” about blood and who was clean and unclean.  She had been unclean for years. 

This would have made it nearly impossible for her work for her living and survive.  She had lived with loneliness and isolation for years.  

One day she sees Jesus and she sneaks a touch at Jesus’ robe and is healed.  After living in the shadows and trying to stay away from everyone, she is confronted by Jesus when He asks the crowd who had touched Him.  

The Bible doesn’t elaborate on the rest of her story, but can you imagine how this lonely woman’s life changed after being healed by Jesus? 

From being unclean for years, she is now made whole and is “clean” again.  Able to connect and interact with people without always having to tell them she was “unclean.”

Mary Magdalene

Probably one of the saddest stories of loneliness in the Bible is the story of Mary Magdalene.  The Bible doesn’t tell us what had happened in Mary’s life that led up to her life of prostitution, but we can almost be certain that it had something to do with loneliness.  

As she was diving deeper into this life, she encountered Jesus.  Even though she needed to encounter Him many times before her life was completely changed, He was patient with her and continued to care about her in the midst of her struggles and challenged her to change her life. 

Mary’s life was eternally changed by Jesus’ touch and presence in her life.  He saw beyond the outward struggles and the life she was living to try to fill the void of loneliness.   Just as we know all things are possible with God, He changed her life.  

Jesus

Now you may not think of Jesus as being lonely, but when He was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, you can catch of glimpse of the deep loneliness He felt from God. 

He prayed that God would take the “cup” away from Him is possible.  The weight of the world’s sins was so heavy on Jesus’ shoulders that He couldn’t bear it.  

But He did bear it with God’s help.  As a result, He died for us and was raised again so that we would never need to be lonely again.  

The beautiful picture of Jesus and His disciples after His resurrection depicts Jesus caring for their feelings of loss when He would return to Heaven. 

As He is explaining again to the disciples that He will be leaving, He tells them that He will send a Comforter to be with them.  

9 Bible Verses When You Feel Like No One Cares

When you are feeling lonely, the best place to turn is to God.  He can meet your needs and fill your loneliness.  There are so many beautiful promises in the Bible that remind you that God is always with you no matter how you feel.

If you feel like you don’t know how to reach out, there are simple steps for connecting with God as you read the Bible and seek Him.  

Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV – Be strong and courageous. 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.

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Isaiah 41:10 NIV – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 68:5-6 NIV – A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.  God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

1 Peter 5:7 NIV – Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Proverbs 18:24 NIV – One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Psalm 147:3 NIV – He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Joshua 1:9 NIV – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV – Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Just like the beauty that came in the lives of these Bible characters above, God can work through your loneliness and create something beautiful. 

Even though you can’t see Jesus today, He has left a Comforter to be with you whether you feel lonely or not.  Whether you are sad or discouraged, He is with you.  

No matter your past, your present, or your future, God can fill your loneliness with joy.  Just like each of the stories above and so many more stories of loneliness in the Bible, 

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;     therefore I will wait for him.”  Eccl 3:11 NIV

If your heart is lonely today, spend some time reading the verses above.  Underline them in your Bible, write them on index cards or sticky notes and post them where you will see them often. 

Ask God to fill your loneliness and give you peace and joy.  He is working right now to take your situation and make it something beautiful.  

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