Sadness and loneliness are emotions that we may encounter from time to time. Painful experiences such as illness and the loss of a loved one may lead to sadness. Divorce, the death of a spouse, singleness, or the absence of friends and associates may lead to the feeling of loneliness.
The Lord in His wisdom knows that we will have to endure loneliness and sadness. That is why the Holy Scriptures have many comforting Bible verses to help us deal with these emotions.
What does the Bible say about sadness and loneliness?
It is the will of the Lord for all His children to enjoy happy and fulfilling lives. That is why we are reminded in Proverbs 17:22 about the benefit of happiness and the effect of sadness. The verse states, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones”.
Our heavenly Father wants us to be comforted and that is why Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit as a companion on our Christian journey.
“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” John 15:26 KJV
In Psalm 4:7,8 there is a beautiful text that may be said prayerfully to bring you peace and comfort when you are facing sadness and loneliness. It states, “Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. ⁸ In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety”.
What is a good Bible verse for sadness?
There are many Bible verses to remind you of the love of God, the comfort He offers, and the happiness He wants you to experience.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ¹⁹ The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; Psalm 34:18,19 NIV
The word of God gives the assurance that even through your sadness, heartbreak, and brokenness the Lord will be with you as a constant source of comfort.
Find comfort in knowing that the Lord is close when you are heartbroken, He saves when you are feeling down, and He is your Deliverer in times of trouble.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort ³ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3,4 NIV
The apostle Paul uses this passage not only to exalt the Lord but highlight His great love and remind us about the comfort that He offers to all His children. Paul refers to the Lord as the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.
If you think about God in these two ways you can’t help but be joyful and encouraged even amidst very sad situations. God loves you unconditionally and He is a constant source of comfort. If you embrace this you will find enough comfort for yourself and for others.
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 NIV
This text is not only a reminder to be of good courage but will also help you to depend on the Lord instead of fixating on the things that are making you sad. The verse says that you should “not be afraid or terrified because of them”.
Bask in the love of Christ, be strong and courageous, and the things that cause you to worry will no longer capture your attention.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 NIV
This is a great verse to reflect on when sadness and the troubles of life seem overwhelming. It will remind you that the Lord is always there with you and you can draw strength from Him.
Verses two and three of this chapter are also good Bible verses to use as an affirmation. It reads, “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging”. You may repeat this as a group activity or say it individually to provide reassurance.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. ⁶ So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:5,6 NIV
Sometimes sadness is experienced when you take your focus from God and place it on material things. Instead of being thankful for all the blessings that God has bestowed upon you, you sulk about what you want and what you don’t have.
This passage is a reminder not to focus on such things as money. Instead turn your attention to God’s love and the fact that He is always with you. Don’t be sad. Be content with what you have and be confident knowing that the Lord is your helper.
How does God help with loneliness?
The Lord is a constant source of help for you when you are experiencing feelings of loneliness. He is omnipresent and this gives the assurance that the mighty hand of God is always with you to deal with fear, to encourage, to guide, to heal, and give strength.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Being alone, especially in a frightening situation can evoke fear and sadness. The word of God in Isaiah, tells you exactly what you should do in your time of loneliness when it seems no one else can help.
The command is given, “do not fear, do not be dismayed”. This command also gives some very powerful reasons that you may repeat aloud to reassure yourself. God is with me, He is my God, He will strengthen me and help me, He will uphold me with His righteous right hand.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 NIV
Acknowledging the Lord as your shepherd means that you will confide in Him to provide guidance and direction throughout your Christian journey.
Knowing that you have a shepherd means that you are never alone. Firstly, because you are a member of His fold and secondly, the shepherd is always near.
Even when the cares of life seem difficult or when you have to travel through the valley of the shadow of death there is no need to fear or feel lonely because the great shepherd is with you all the days of your life.
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20 NIV
The gospel commission in Matthew 28:18-20 not only points out your responsibility as a follower of Christ. It calls you to be His co-laborer as you make disciples of all nations. This means that you are working with Jesus to spread the good news of His salvation.
In moments when you feel isolated, helpless, stranded, or alone remember who your coworker is. If this is not enough then reflect on the promise Jesus gave in verse twenty. He told you that He will be with you even to the end of the world.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NIV
The almighty God wants you to be of good courage even when you are having feelings of loneliness. Feeling lonely is not an honest indication that you are alone. This is because even when you are unable to discern His presence the Lord is with you.
It’s a good thing to know that the Lord your God is always with you when you are traveling, taking on a project by yourself, experiencing a unique situation, or just simply feeling all alone.
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. ⁴ Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:3-5 NIV
It is only because of the steadfast love of God that you are able to receive healing, peace, restoration, and comfort. Jesus offered himself as a ransom, took your punishment, and bore your pain. He became a man of sorrows so that instead of loneliness you may experience joy and peace.
There is no emotion that you experience that the Lord is unfamiliar with. Jesus is your empathetic high priest. The English Standard Version of Hebrews 4:15 alludes to this fact when it stated,
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin”.
What does the Bible say about being single and lonely?
Regardless of your marital status the Lord has great plans for you and your life to give you a future and hope. There is no place in the universe that is beyond His reach and there is no situation that He cannot bring hope to.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, Psalm 139:7-10 NIV
Even as you go through your season of singleness you can be hopeful knowing that there is no place you can go to escape the companionship and compassion of the Lord. This Psalm is a powerful reminder that singleness is not a sentence to a life of loneliness.
Even if you take the wings of the morning and travel to a far corner of the universe you will not be alone. If you are like a lot of women or young men who are in search of a spouse just trust that the hands of the Lord will guide you.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever John 14:16 NIV
This is another passage that provides hope and comfort as it encourages anyone who is single or feeling lonely. These are words of Jesus as He spoke about the Holy Spirit who will comfort and be with you forever.
God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Psalm 68:6 NIV
The Holy Bible provides great comfort for those who obey God and follow His will. While the rebellious dwell in a sun parched land the Lord has many bounties for you. He promised that He will place the lonely in families because He wants you to enjoy a fulfilling life.
Being a part of the family of God not only means that He is your heavenly father. It’s a constant reminder that the omnipresent God is always with you. Psalm 91:1-2 attest to this fact.
It points out that “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NIV
Singleness and loneliness may take a toll on the heart and mind. This is why it’s important to ask the Lord to guard your heart and mind and give you peace. This is also a great Bible verse to share with others who are single or lonely.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. ⁹ Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. Psalm 34:8,9 NIV
This text is a call for all singles to trust the Lord. It says that those who fear the Lord will lack nothing. Instead, they will experience His blessings and taste and see that He is good.
Isaiah 58:11 also confirms this point by noting that God will provide guidance and fulfill your needs. “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”.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV
This is a beautiful prayer to say for yourself or someone else who is going through seasons of loneliness. As you repeat these words just be hopeful and patient as you wait on the Lord to fulfill His plans for your life in His own timing.
Conclusion
The Holy Scriptures have a number of powerful Bible verses that deal with sadness and loneliness. They are able to provide hope and encouragement for those who are sad and lonely and comfort you if you are single and alone.
