### **Introduction: The Lie We Believe**
Video Ill.: Sermon Bumper 4
Have you ever felt alone in a crowded room?
You are surrounded by people — smiling, laughing, going about their lives — and yet you feel invisible, disconnected… isolated.
https://relevantmagazine.com/faith/church/how-the-church-is-addressing-the-loneliness-epidemic/
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf
https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/new-apa-poll-one-in-three-americans-feels-lonely-e
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/nov/16/who-declares-loneliness-a-global-public-health-concern
https://katv.com/news/nation-world/loneliness-and-isolation-have-reached-epidemic-level-surgeon-general-says-mental-health-depression-anxiety-social-disconnection-alone-disease-illness-economic-impact-work-school-youth-elderly-marriage-church-community-social-media?photo=2
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/05/21/lonely-young-american-men-poll/
If you have ever felt that way, you are not alone. In fact, it turns out, according to US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in 2023, nearly half of all adults in the United States say they feel that way too — lonely, unseen, forgotten.
You see, in 2023, Dr. Murthy declared loneliness a national public health crisis. Yes, loneliness — not cancer, not COVID — loneliness.
He compared it to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It can increase your risk of heart disease, dementia, and even early death.
A recent American Psychiatric Association poll found that 30% of U.S. adults feel lonely at least once a week, and 10% feel lonely daily.
And it is not just older adults.
Young men under 35 are now one of the loneliest groups in our country. One in four report feeling lonely most days.
Even more alarming? The place that should be the most connected — the church — is not immune. People come to church every Sunday, sit in pews surrounded by others… and still feel utterly alone.
So here is the question for today:
If God promises to be with us, why do so many people still feel alone?
Today, the world whispers the lie: “You are alone. No one really understands you. No one is coming to help.”
The world tells us that if we are alone, it is because something is wrong with us — that we are not lovable, not enough, not worth sticking around for.
In a world full of broken relationships, isolation, loneliness, and self-sufficiency, it is easy to believe that no one really sees us or cares about us.
But, friends, that is the lie.
And, this morning, we are going to expose that lie… and replace it with truth.
Because God's Word tells us something radically different. In Hebrews 13:5 we hear God speaking these words to us:
5 …“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13, NKJV)
Folks, the good news is that you are not alone.
You have not been forgotten.
And no matter what this world says — you are deeply known and deeply loved.
Let us walk through that truth together.
### **I. The Weight of Loneliness**
As we begin, loneliness is not just an emotion — something that we feel. It is a silent, heavy burden that many in our world, even in our congregation this morning, carry.
When we carry that burden long enough, we begin to internalize the lies that loneliness tells us:
“I am not worthy of help.”
“I am truly alone.”
“No one is coming.”
So what do we do?
We withdraw. We retreat inward. We pull ourselves into our safe cocoon, and we hide. We put up barriers. We put up walls. We blockade ourselves all to shield our broken hearts and guard our fragile minds.
We convince ourselves that no one wants to hear about our struggles. No one really wants to know that is bothering me. No one really cares about the pain in my heart. No one sees. No one really loves. No one cares about the ache in my heart.
Worse, we assume people only want to judge us. Criticize us. Dismiss us. So we put up walls to protect ourselves—but those walls also keep everyone else out.
In our attempt to survive, we isolate. And in that isolation, we try to numb the ache.
We drown our loneliness in distractions:
Endless doom scrolling on social media
Throwing ourselves into work
Overindulging in hobbies
Turning to alcohol, substances, or hookup culture
The more we hurt, the more we distance ourselves. The more we isolate ourselves.
https://sprc.org/about-suicide/scope-of-the-problem/suicide-by-age/
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_the_United_Kingdom
It affects every generation—from teens to the elderly—but it is especially devastating for young men. As I said in the introduction, young men under 35 are reportedly the loneliest people in our country. There’s so many reasons for that, including the erosion of the male role and healthy relationships. Young men feel like they cannot reach out, they cannot seek help, they are not heard, they are not understood. And tragically, that weight of burden has a devastating cost: suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young men of that age.
Folks, we live in a lonely and hurting time.
And that loneliness creeps into our our relationship with God. Spiritually, we begin to feel like God is even distant. We pray and do not feel like God is answering. We look at this broken world and wonder, “Where is God in all of this?” We just know that, like the world, God is just waiting to judge us for all of the things we’ve done. We grow discouraged, distant, and spiritually worn down. We give up and walk away from God because it feels like God, just like the rest of the world, has walked away from us.
**Key point:**
The heart of the matter, folks, is this: loneliness fuels fear, discouragement, and spiritual fatigue.
And if we do not confront this lie with truth, it will hollow out our hearts.
We need help.
We need hope.
We need something—or Someone—to remind us that we are not alone.
### **II. The Truth: God Is Always with Us**
When we begin to believe the lies of the world, we can counter and hold on to the truth of God: God is always with us!
In 2025, we are blessed to have God’s written word. We have God’s promises word for word. We have God speaking to us directly. Throughout that written word, God repeatedly reminds us of His presence and guidance in our lives.
In Joshua 1:9, God commands and reminds us of this:
9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1, NKJV)
David reminds us in Psalm 23:4 that even in the darkest valley, God is with us. Specifically, David said:
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death,?I will fear no evil;?For You are with me;… (Psalm 23, NKJV)
Over and over, Jesus tried to reassure His disciples that, though He would be leaving them soon, His presence would be with them forever. In John 14, Jesus said:
16 …I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. (John 14, NKJV)
Jesus is telling us that the Spirit has filled our hearts to remind us over and over that God has not abandoned us. God has not turned His back on us. Our Father is not leaving us in this world to fight alone, casting us aside as orphans, without support, without advocacy, without love.
No! He will never leave us. He is with us no matter where we go.
The Hebrew writer reaffirms God’s promises to Israel and Joshua in the Old Testament, by quoting God Himself in Hebrews 13:5:
5 …“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13, NKJV)
Today, find encouragement from God’s promises!
God is with us in our hardest moments.
God is for us, working all things for good.
We are never alone, no matter how abandoned we may feel.
**Illustration: God Was Carrying Me (Adapted from Caralyn at Beauty Beyond Bones)**
Caralyn, a young woman of faith and the author of the blog Beauty Beyond Bones, shared a deeply personal story from a season of suffering. Her mother had suffered a severe stroke — a life-altering event — and the family was suddenly thrust into an emotional and spiritual whirlwind.
In one of her blog posts, Caralyn wrote about one of the first nights she stayed at the hospital with her mom after the stroke. She recalled lying on a makeshift cot in the hospital room, the machines beeping, the lights dim, the atmosphere heavy with uncertainty. She felt completely alone — afraid, exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure how to pray or even what to say.
She wrote:
“It was one of the first nights I was sleeping at the hospital with my mom... I was so scared, feeling like I had to keep it all together. That I had to be strong for everyone. But I felt like I was crumbling.”
She cried out to God that night — not with eloquent words or perfect prayers, but with tears and silence. And that is when she said she felt something — peace. Not an immediate solution. Not a dramatic miracle. But the presence of God, right there in that sterile hospital room. She sensed His comfort wrapping around her heart, whispering strength into her weakness.
Later, looking back, she realized something profound:
“I thought I was walking alone through that hospital hallway... but I look back now and realize God was carrying me the whole time.”
Her story echoes the infamous words of poet Margaret Fishback Powers from way back in 1964:
One night I dreamed a dream.?As I was walking along the beach with my
Lord.?Across the dark sky flashed scenes from
my life.?For each scene, I noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand,?One belonging to me and one to my Lord.
After the last scene of my life flashed before
me,?I looked back at the footprints in the sand.?I noticed that at many times along the path
of my life,?especially at the very lowest and saddest
times,?there was only one set of footprints.
This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord
about it.?"Lord, you said once I decided to follow
you,?You'd walk with me all the way.?But I noticed that during the saddest and
most troublesome times of my life,?there was only one set of footprints.?I don't understand why, when I needed You
the most, You would leave me."
He whispered, "My precious child, I love
you and will never leave you?Never, ever, during your trials and testings.?When you saw only one set of footprints,?It was then that I carried you.”
Folks, at the darkest points of our journey, when we feel abandoned or forgotten, we are not alone. God is not distant. He is not absent. He is carrying us.
**Key Point:**
It reinforces the fact, the truth, that God’s presence is constant—even when our feelings tell us otherwise.
### **III. Biblical Examples of God’s Presence**
So what do we do when we feel alone?
We hold on to God’s promises, yes — but we also remind ourselves of the stories in Scripture, stories of real people who felt isolated, forgotten, or overwhelmed… but discovered that God was there the whole time.
So third this morning, these Biblical examples of God’s presence are not fairy tales — they are real, messy, raw moments in the lives of God’s people, and they show us that even when we feel alone, we never are.
Let’s look at a few of them together.
Hagar – The God Who Sees
Hagar was a single mother on the run.
She had been mistreated, pushed aside, and left wandering in the wilderness with her child. She must have felt invisible—unloved, unwanted, and as though no one cared about her.
But then God showed up.
In Genesis 16, God sent an angel to her, and Hagar responded by calling God El Roi—“the God who sees me.”
She said in verse 13:
13 …“You are the God who sees me... I have now seen the One who sees me.” (Genesis 16, NIV1984)
Even when she felt forgotten by everyone else, God saw her.
Elijah – The Prophet Who Wanted to Give Up
After his incredible showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Elijah should have felt victorious. But instead, he felt afraid, alone, and completely depleted.
He fled into the wilderness and sat down under a tree, saying in 1 Kings 19:4:
4 …“It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” (1 Kings 19, NKJV)
He was exhausted. He felt like no one cared, that no one understood. He thought he was the only one left who was faithful.
But God met him—not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire… but, according to verse 12, in a gentle whisper.
And God reminded Elijah in verse 18:
18 … “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19, NKJV)
Elijah wasn’t as isolated as he thought — and neither are we.
Jeremiah – The Weeping Prophet
Now here is a man who truly knew loneliness. Jeremiah knew loneliness.
He delivered God’s message to a people who refused to listen. He was mocked, ridiculed, imprisoned, and left in a muddy pit. He cried out in anguish in Jeremiah 15:
17 … I sat alone because Your hand was on me…. (Jeremiah 15, NLT)
But even in his loneliness, Jeremiah never gave up completely.
He clung to hope and declared in Lamentations 3:
22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends!? His mercies never cease.
23 Great is His faithfulness;? His mercies begin afresh each morning.
(Lamentations 3, NLT)
Even when Jeremiah felt forgotten by everyone else—God was still with him, faithful every morning.
Jesus – Abandoned by His Friends
And finally… consider Jesus.
In His darkest hour—in the Garden of Gethsemane—He asked His closest friends to keep watch and pray with Him. But what happened?
They fell asleep.
And then, when Jesus was arrested, they all ran away.
On the cross, Jesus cried out in Matthew 27:
?46 …“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27, NKJV)
He experienced the full weight of isolation, pain, and spiritual anguish. Why?
So we would never have to.
Through His death and resurrection, Jesus secured our eternal companionship with God. And through the Holy Spirit, He remains with us—forever.
Through these stories, we gain hope. These stories speak the same truth, over and over again:
You may feel alone—but you never are.
### **IV. Responding to the Truth**
So finally this morning how do we respond to this amazing truth this morning?
First, we need to acknowledge our loneliness. Friends, it is not weakness to admit that we sometimes feel alone. In fact, it is a step toward healing. When we honestly confess our loneliness, we open the door for God to reshape our perspective and renew our hope.
Second, we must lean into God’s presence. Fill your heart and mind with His promises. Spend time in Scripture—reading the stories of those who struggled, yet were never abandoned by God. Worship and celebrate the moments in your own life where you can now see clearly that God was walking with you through the dark and difficult seasons. And above all, pray. Talk to your Father. He is already near—waiting for you to reach out.
Third, we need to seek out community. Do not give in to the temptation to isolate. We were never meant to walk this life alone. That is why God gave us the church—this family of believers—to support, encourage, and lift each other up. Invest in relationships that reflect God’s love.
Finally, look around and be the presence of Jesus to someone else who may be feeling alone. Sometimes the most powerful ministry is simply showing up and letting someone know they are not forgotten.
### **Key Question:**
May we ask ourselves today, Where do I need to rest in God’s presence this week—and where can I reflect His presence to others?
May that question shape our hearts and steps this week.
### **Conclusion: He Sees, He Hears, He Will Rescue**
So, where does that leave us today?
If you are carrying the ache of loneliness, hear this: You are not invisible to God.
He sees you.
He hears your cries — even the silent ones.
He knows the fears you have not spoken aloud.
And He is already near.
Just like Hagar in the wilderness, Elijah under the broom tree, Jeremiah in the pit, and even Jesus in Gethsemane — you are not forgotten.
You are not abandoned.
You are not walking alone.
Your feelings may scream otherwise, but God’s truth whispers louder from Hebrews 13:
5 …“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13, NKJV)
This morning, if you are overwhelmed, if you feel like you are breaking under the weight of isolation, I want you to listen — not just to me — but to the voice of the One who formed you, who sees you, who walks with you.
In just a moment, we are going to close with a song by Lauren Daigle titled Rescue. It is written from the perspective of our heavenly Father, reminding us of what is true — even when we cannot feel it. The chorus shares these words:
“I will send out an army to find you
In the middle of the darkest night, it's true
I will rescue you.”
That is His promise.
That is His heart.
That is His love.
And maybe… that is what you needed to hear today.
As this song plays, I invite you to reflect. To respond. To pray. To reflect.
Today, do not carry the lie of loneliness another day.
Let the truth of God’s presence rescue your heart.
You are not alone — He is already here.
