READ: ISAIAH 41:10; JOHN 14:18; 15:12-15; HEBREWS 13:5

Have people ever let you down so much that you don’t want to get up again? I know I have felt like this many times. Or maybe you see all of your friends hanging out, and you feel like you’re the “backup friend.” Many times in my life, I saw my friends hanging out without me, and they would rarely talk to me. I’d always have to be the first one to reach out to them. Sometimes, I felt so severely depressed, I felt I couldn’t even tell my family about what I was going through. And I felt that Jesus was ignoring me too.

But the truth is, even if it feels like you’re alone in your troubles, someone is always next to you. Jesus is with you always and forever. He never ignores you. He sees your troubles and your sorrows. He always understands what you’re going through, and He wants to be there for you.

Jesus died and rose again to make the way for you to become His friend. And Jesus empathizes with you—remember, He knows firsthand what it’s like to be abandoned by your friends—and He invites you to talk to Him sincerely (Mark 14:50; Hebrews 4:14-16). Just tell Him what’s on your heart, and He will listen and comfort you, often through His Word, the Bible. Jesus is the best friend who will never betray you. He will never leave you alone in the darkness. • Violet Kotovets

• Friendships are an important part of life. In fact, friendship was God’s idea! Yet, in our world that has been broken by sin, friendship can sometimes feel out of reach. And even when we are surrounded by friends, these relationships can often leave us feeling disappointed. In times like these, how could it be comforting to know that Jesus is the friend we can always count on?

• If you’re having difficulty finding good friendships, consider taking some time to be honest with God and tell Him how this makes you feel. You can also ask Him to help you notice opportunities He may be giving you to invest in relationships with the people around you.

• Today’s devotion mentions feeling severely depressed. If you are feeling depressed, or if it’s been more than a couple weeks since you’ve felt happy, tell a trusted adult. If you need someone to talk to, you can request a free conversation with Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department by calling 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). Please be prepared to leave your contact information for a counselor to return a call to you as soon as possible. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate.

“And remember, I [Jesus] am with you always, to the end of the age.” Mathew 28:20 (CSB)