Bible Verses About Loneliness For Support When You're Feeling Lonely

Medically reviewed by Andrea Brant, LMHC
Updated September 19, 2023by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Loneliness is a common human experience that can affect an individual’s mental and physical health over time. People may choose a variety of different ways to cope with feeling lonely. Many find comfort in reading the words others have written on the topic in the form of poetry, prose, loneliness quotes, or Bible verses about loneliness. For those who are interested in finding out what the Bible has to say about this feeling, see below.

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Address Loneliness In Therapy

Feeling Physically Or Emotionally Alone

Loneliness is not the same as being alone. It’s entirely possible to find contentment, peace, and even joy when spending time by yourself, and some people need regular doses of it to feel balanced. Instead, loneliness is an “affective and cognitive discomfort or uneasiness from being or perceiving oneself to be alone or otherwise solitary,” according to the American Psychological Association (APA). 

An individual can experience loneliness when physically alone or when emotionally alone—even if they’re technically surrounded by others. Over time, loneliness can negatively affect both mental and physical health.

As the National Institute on Aging reports, research suggests links between loneliness and health problems like heart disease, a weakened immune system, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, and even death.

Coping With Feelings Of Isolation

Of course, one powerful way to cope with loneliness is to seek out or strengthen interpersonal connections in your life. You can do this by being the one to reach out to a friend or family member to spend time together, or by pursuing new relationships through joining a club or group in your area. Taking a temporary or permanent break from social media may help, as a 2023 study suggests that “more time spent on social media was associated with higher levels of loneliness.” You might also consider speaking with a therapist about it. We’ll discuss this option more below. 

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Support From Scripture

There are Bible verses about loneliness, for those who are interested in God's word on the topic. People who have a religious faith may find that reading verses about loneliness helps them sense God's love when they feel lonely. Those who are interested in seeking comfort or inspiration from this source might consider the following verses on different elements of loneliness.

Related To Abandonment
  • "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." –Joshua 1:5.

  • “No one stood by me the first time I defended myself; all deserted me. But the Lord stayed with me and gave me strength." –2 Timothy 4:16

  • "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." –Matthew 28:20

Related To Rejection
  • "My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stands far off." –Psalm 38

  • "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me." –Psalm 27:10

  • "For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own." –1 Samuel 12:22

Related To Conflict
  • "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." –Deuteronomy 31:6

  • "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." –Romans 38–29

  • "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." –Galatians 6:2
Related To Grief And Loss
  • "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling place. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land." –Psalm 68:5

  • “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." –Psalm 23:4

  • "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." –2 Corinthians 1:3–4

Related To Life Transitions
  • "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." –Jeremiah 29:11

  • "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." –Joshua 1:9

  • "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." –Isaiah 43:1–4

  • “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to live and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to sow." –Ecclesiastes 3:1–8

  • "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." –Isaiah 58:11
On Hope
  • "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." –Isaiah 41:10

  • "...he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.” –Matthew 14:13

  • “Jesus tells his apostles, "Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me." –John 16:32

  • “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.” –Deuteronomy 31:6

  • “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” –Matthew 28:20

  • “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” –Psalm 147:3

  • "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." –Matthew 6:33
  • Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. –Psalm 2:8

Address Loneliness In Therapy

Therapy

Those who are having trouble coping with feelings of loneliness might consider meeting with a mental health professional like a therapist to address it. A qualified therapist can support you in increasing self-esteem and interpersonal skills to empower you to connect with others, help you address symptoms of any mental health conditions you may be experiencing—such as social anxiety, which can make forming or maintaining relationships more difficult—and provide you with a safe, nonjudgmental space in which to express and process your feelings. 

If the prospect of meeting with a therapist in person makes you nervous or if you can’t find a provider in your area, you might consider online therapy. Research suggests that it can offer similar benefits to in-person therapy in many cases. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a licensed therapist who you can connect with via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging from the comfort of home. If you’re interested in meeting with a therapist who accepts your beliefs in terms of religion or spirituality, you can indicate this preference in your intake questionnaire. See below for reviews of BetterHelp therapists from clients who sought a provider whose religious or spiritual beliefs match their own.

Counselor Reviews

"When I think of all the qualities of a good counselor I have to say Dr. Counts is one who I would highly recommend. My faith in God guides me and Dr. Counts has provided me with a sound listening ear and counsel. Not only is Dr. Counts compassionate and a wonderful listener, I wholeheartedly recommend him and feel confident that he has given me the tools to successfully go through one of the hardest periods of my life."

"Kimberley has been compassionate, helpful, and informative. I immediately felt better emotionally after receiving such tremendous support. I love it that she is open to talking about aspects of my faith experience, good and bad. I always leave our sessions feeling heard and supported."

Takeaway

Feeling lonely can be a difficult experience, but there are many different sources of connection and healing beyond Bible verses about loneliness that you might turn to, including inspirational readings, social clubs, and the support of a therapist.

You're not alone with your loneliness

The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.
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