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It’s the first week of January. Cold snow showers greet my presence, but amidst their beauty, something feels dead inside. There’s always a strange quiet that settles in after the holidays, isn’t there? Maybe you’ve felt it, too.
After the decorations come down and Christmas and New Year’s have passed, group chats slow, parties fade, and travel comes to a close. Schedules attempt to return to normal, but something still feels off. The kids are at school, we’re back to work, and the grind is heavier than before. Instead of feeling refreshed and rested, we find ourselves tired and cranky.
While many people describe January as emotionally heavier than December, recent data shows that loneliness and mental health struggles spike during these winter months (Health and Human Services). So, the winter blues you’re feeling? They’re not just typical, but very common, especially after the holiday hustle and bustle comes to a close.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General through Health and Human Services, these winter months make loneliness a public health crisis because of its connection to anxiety, depression, and physical health risks. Studies also report that social isolation often increases from December to March due to cold weather, routine reset, and thinning social calendar events (CDC).
We live in one of the most digitally connected eras, but most of us feel profoundly alone. What does it mean to experience God’s presence when we feel isolated, unseen, or nothing at all?
Loneliness Is Normal
If you trace back humanity to the book of Genesis, you will see that God created Adam, a beautiful world, nature, and animals. And yet, it was not good that Adam was “alone.” In one sense, he wasn’t entirely alone. All of creation surrounded him, and he had close fellowship with God. But in another sense, we know that God saw that not one was right for Adam, and that’s why He created Eve from Adam’s rib.
We as human beings were created for relationships. A personal and intimate relationship with God, and close and personal relationships with others. Adam’s story illustrates this, as do some of the most faithful people in the Scriptures:
-David cried out in Psalm 25:16 that he was lonely and afflicted.
-Elijah was so discouraged and isolated, He wanted to die (1 Kings 19).
-Jeremiah was known as the “weeping prophet.”
-Even Jesus experienced abandonment, isolation, and loneliness by friends, crowds, and His ultimate sacrifice on the cross.
Not only is loneliness normal, but it’s a human experience we will all face as a result of living in a broken world. It’s not a sign of weak faith or something we’re doing wrong; it’s a longing of desire for the relationships we were always created for.
God Often Meets Us In Our Loneliness
Instead of ignoring these longings, January greets us with new and fresh opportunities. While distractions are stripped away, our minds grapple with fewer events, gatherings, and expectations. That quiet feels uncomfortable and foreign, but it’s good for our souls. Why? Because it’s in the stillness, the moments of pause and quiet that God most often speaks.
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah doesn’t encounter God in a loud wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper. This is one of my favorite stories because it reminds me that while God is all-powerful and could reveal Himself to us in any way that He pleases, He chooses to do so gently, quietly, and calmly. He’s not in a rush. He’s not loud or rude. He’s present, faithful, and still.
While loneliness is difficult to overcome and feelings can become overwhelming, it can also be a sacred space. Not because it feels good or is natural to us, but quite the opposite. It’s an invitation to be honest. To slow down. To get real with God.
Psalm 34:18 reads as a reminder this way: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (NIV). For even when we’re lonely and feel isolated, God doesn’t want us to feel that way. But He’s with us in those moments. He doens’t wait for us to feel whole before drawing near.