READ: PSALM 27:7-10; JOHN 14:18-20; ROMANS 8:31-39

It can feel terrible to feel all alone in the world. Whether you’re going through a time when you don’t have a lot of friends in your life or you feel like you can’t connect with others when you’re around them, loneliness can hit you hard and upset your life. When you feel like no one cares about you, know that God is always there. He always loves you—in a way that goes beyond anything you can imagine (Ephesians 3:17-21).

When I’m feeling lonely or when I feel like I’m all alone in a stressful situation, I like to imagine God holding me. I like to imagine myself securely in His hands. I know that He is there. I know that He will not abandon me. I know that He is holding me.

He is there with you, too. No matter what you’re facing or how lonely you feel, God sees you, He is with you, He holds you.

How can we know this is true? Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we not only receive salvation, we receive connection with God. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are never really alone. No matter what you go through in life and how many—or few—people you have supporting you, may you always feel God right there with you. • Emily Acker

• Can you think of a time you felt lonely and like you didn’t really have anyone you could rely on? Do you feel that way today? How could it be comforting to know that God—the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth who died for you and then defeated death itself—is with you?

• Have you had times in your life when it felt like God was the only one who was supporting you and holding you and keeping you going? Consider taking a moment to thank God for the ways He has helped you through these tough times.

• God reminds us of His presence with us through His Spirit, His Word (the Bible),and His people (the church). Who is someone in your life who might be feeling alone right now? Consider taking a moment to pray for this person, and ask God for ideas of ways you could show His love to them; then write down anything that comes to mind.

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. Psalm 73:23 (NIV)