Psalm 68:6 – “God sets the lonely in families…”
I’ve always had this fear tucked in the back of my mind: What if I end up alone?
Not just “single” alone. But really alone.
Caring for others is my default setting. I’m the one who remembers birthdays, sends the “thinking of you” texts, notices when someone’s off. But deep down, there’s this ache that whispers, “Who’s going to do that for you?”
Over the last couple of years, God has blown me away with an answer I didn’t expect: my church community.
The best friends I’ve made there have changed my life. They’ve prayed over me, celebrated with me, showed up for me in ways I didn’t even know I needed. And honestly? I’ve never felt more seen or supported than I do now.
But honestly, I still get lonely sometimes.
I’ll go to the movies alone, order the big popcorn, soak up the fact that I can watch exactly what I want without compromise. And it’s great—until the end of the movie.
Because a solo movie night is cute for one evening. But what about the six other nights of the week? What about the Tuesday nights when you wish you had someone to cook with? Or the Sunday afternoons after church when you want to watch football all day and just hang out?
That’s where the loneliness hits in a bigger way.
Psalm 68:6 says, “God sets the lonely in families…”
And I’ve seen Him do it. My friends from church are that family. But sometimes God’s “family” doesn’t cover every lonely moment. Sometimes, He meets those moments Himself—before He fills them with people.
And that’s not my favorite answer. Because if I’m being honest, I’d rather have the physical comfort. The friend who shows up with ice cream. The hug. The “let’s hang out” text. But God doesn’t just want to patch the loneliness with temporary company. He wants to show me that even if everyone else walked away—He wouldn’t.
Here’s what I’m slowly learning:
1. Loneliness Isn’t Failure
It doesn’t mean you’re unlovable or unwanted. It just means you were created for connection—and you’re noticing its absence. That’s human. Even Jesus surrounded Himself with people.
2. God Really Does See You
Not in a vague, “He sees everyone” way. But in a personal, “I know the exact shade of loneliness you feel right now” way. He knows when you’re pretending you’re fine but scrolling your phone just to feel less empty. He’s not indifferent to it.
3. Your People May Not Fill Every Gap
Even with the best friends and strongest community, there will still be quiet nights when it’s just you and God. And that’s not a sign something’s wrong—it’s a reminder that no human relationship can fully satisfy what only He can.
4. Being Alone Isn’t the Same as Being Abandoned
This is the one I wrestle with. I can be alone without being forsaken. I can feel lonely and still be deeply loved. It’s possible to hold both.
5. You’re Allowed to Want More
Faith doesn’t mean faking contentment. You can be grateful for God’s presence and your community and still ask Him for deeper connection. That’s not unspiritual—it’s honest.
So what do I do with the six nights of the week when I’m not at the movies, when the quiet feels heavy?
Some nights, I let myself feel it. I pray through it. I thank God for my friends and still tell Him, “This hurts right now.” Other nights, I lean into rhythms that keep me grounded—going for a walk, reading something that points me back to truth, texting someone first instead of waiting to be remembered.
And slowly, I’m seeing how God is both enough and kind enough to give me people. Because He’s not trying to teach me to “just get used to it.” He’s showing me that my foundation isn’t in whether or not I have plans every night—it’s in the fact He is with me every night.
So if you’ve got that same ache—the one that wonders if you’ll always feel like the extra in someone else’s story—hear me: You’re not forgotten. You’re not too much. You’re not hard to love.
God sets the lonely in families. And even if you can’t see it yet, He’s already working on yours.
Hanna Rellar 