Bible Verses On Loneliness For When You're Feeling Lonely

Loneliness is a common human experience that can affect an individual’s mental and physical health over the course of their life. 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.

Feeling physically or emotionally lonely

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.

Coping with feelings of loneliness

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. 

Support from scripture: Trusting in Jesus

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 Bible verses about loneliness helps them sense God's love when they feel lonely. A person who believes in God is faithful to Him and may seek comfort or inspiration from this source. They might consider the following Bible verses if they feel lonely, covering different elements of loneliness.

When you’re focused on your own interests, selfish ambition, and all your anxieties, it can be uplifting to turn to the very present help of the Holy Spirit rather than potentially unreliable friends. You may find grace and find rest in the mighty hand of the Lord. Any time can be the proper time to experience His steadfast love and pleasures forevermore.

These Bible verses have been pulled from various editions of the Bible and its books, including the gospels, Psalms, and many Old Testament books. While some are direct quotes from Jesus, others are commentary from apostles and other followers commenting on the righteous right hand of the Father, the love of money versus the love of heaven, and the power and strength of faith. They cover a range of topics related to loneliness which may be inspiring to you.

Related to abandonment: Wisdom from Jesus Christ

• "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

• “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” -Proverbs 18:24 

• “God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.” -Psalms 68:6

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: Neither death nor life may separate us from the love of God

• "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

• “In the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” -Romans 12:5

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

• “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” - Psalms 73:26 

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

• ”And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” – 1 Timothy 1:12

• “I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right-hand holds me securely.” -Psalms 63:6-8 

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

• ”Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” – 2 Peter 1:2

• “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

• “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” – Psalms 84:11-12

• “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.” -Psalms 34:17

• “Take away all of my sins. Wipe away all of the evil things I've done. God, create a pure heart in me. Give me a new spirit that is faithful to you.” -Psalms 51:9-10

• “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” -Psalm 139

• “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” -John 5:24

• “Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.” -1 Corinthians 3:21-23

• “Nevertheless He saved them for His great name's sake, that He might make His mighty power to be known.
  -Psalms 108:8

• “Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.” - Deuteronomy 26:15

• “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” -James 1:6-8

• “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” -Hebrews 4:14-16 

Therapy

While Bible verses about loneliness can help some individuals, 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 for loneliness 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 aligns with your beliefs in the Bible, 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."