1 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:04,110 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We're glad to have you 3 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:18,170 Speaker 2: listening with us. Today's topic is about why when we 4 00:00:18,210 --> 00:00:22,470 Speaker 2: feel lonely, we are never alone. We'll return with the 5 00:00:22,510 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 2: devotional after a message from our sponsors. Lonely but not alone. 6 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 2: Written and read by Alexis A. Goring. Turn to me 7 00:00:46,820 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 2: and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 8 00:00:50,659 --> 00:00:58,910 Speaker 2: Psalm chapter 25, verse 16, NIV. Lately, God has helped 9 00:00:58,970 --> 00:01:01,730 Speaker 2: me to realize that when I feel lonely, I am 10 00:01:01,810 --> 00:01:05,630 Speaker 2: never alone, because He is always with me, as are 11 00:01:05,730 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 2: His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. God doesn't 12 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 2: want us to feel lonely. He built us for community 13 00:01:13,620 --> 00:01:17,910 Speaker 2: and support, first with him, then with others who he created. 14 00:01:18,910 --> 00:01:23,690 Speaker 2: English poet John Doan said, No man is an island. 15 00:01:24,550 --> 00:01:28,530 Speaker 2: Haman has spoken those words in the 17th century, but 16 00:01:28,569 --> 00:01:31,340 Speaker 2: this wisdom is still true today for all of us. 17 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 2: According to an article published online in March 2026 for 18 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:42,850 Speaker 2: Wash U, the source, Under the newsroom section, Deb Parker wrote, 19 00:01:43,050 --> 00:01:47,410 Speaker 2: In 2023, the World Health Organization declared loneliness a global 20 00:01:47,610 --> 00:01:52,530 Speaker 2: public health concern and launched a commission focused on strengthening 21 00:01:52,670 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 2: social connection. That same year, the U.S. Surgeon General warned 22 00:01:58,260 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 2: that loneliness carries serious health risks, comparing its mortality impact 23 00:02:04,300 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 2: to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Research increasingly links loneliness 24 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:13,859 Speaker 2: not only to mental health challenges, but also to physical 25 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 2: health risks, including heart disease, stroke. 26 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: And early death. 27 00:02:19,540 --> 00:02:23,810 Speaker 2: According to another article by Ann Friedman, published online in 28 00:02:23,870 --> 00:02:28,850 Speaker 2: May 2026 on their Call Your Girlfriend blog, loneliness can 29 00:02:28,910 --> 00:02:32,890 Speaker 2: affect anyone, but the sheer scale at which people are 30 00:02:32,930 --> 00:02:37,330 Speaker 2: getting trapped by the modern relays of loneliness is concerning. 31 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,940 Speaker 2: So much so that loneliness has become the defining health 32 00:02:41,980 --> 00:02:46,620 Speaker 2: crisis of our times. According to the World Health Organization's 33 00:02:46,780 --> 00:02:52,609 Speaker 2: June 2025 report, loneliness is associated with around 100 deaths 34 00:02:52,790 --> 00:02:59,049 Speaker 2: per hour globally. That's not all. Stress-related absenteeism from work 35 00:02:59,490 --> 00:03:06,310 Speaker 2: costs U.S. employers an estimated $ 154 billion annually. These numbers 36 00:03:06,389 --> 00:03:10,950 Speaker 2: point to a more grave situation than one can imagine. 37 00:03:11,810 --> 00:03:17,150 Speaker 2: Each statistic reflects a lonely person eating dinner alone, another 38 00:03:17,190 --> 00:03:20,100 Speaker 2: who has millions of online connections but no one to 39 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:24,020 Speaker 2: call in a moment of crisis, yet another who weeps 40 00:03:24,139 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 2: alone and has no shoulder to cry on. The ripple 41 00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:33,310 Speaker 2: effects of loneliness extend far beyond mere sadness. as many 42 00:03:33,389 --> 00:03:36,550 Speaker 2: chronic lifestyle diseases are added on due to the condition, 43 00:03:37,050 --> 00:03:41,750 Speaker 2: such as coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes. That's 44 00:03:41,790 --> 00:03:47,180 Speaker 2: not all. Loneliness gives rise to cognitive decline and several 45 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:54,140 Speaker 2: mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, and 46 00:03:54,620 --> 00:03:59,820 Speaker 2: post-traumatic stress disorder. How can we solve this dangerous problem? 47 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 2: Friedman said, loneliness can be eased by a multi-pronged approach. 48 00:04:05,220 --> 00:04:08,460 Speaker 2: Individuals can take personal steps by reaching out to friends 49 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,260 Speaker 2: and family, joining social clubs, or taking part in group 50 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 2: activities that align with their interests. They can also participate 51 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 2: in volunteer or community work, which can create meaning and 52 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 2: a sense of belonging. I believe that the loneliness crisis 53 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,550 Speaker 2: can also be solved through a genuine relationship with our Savior, 54 00:04:27,730 --> 00:04:30,559 Speaker 2: Jesus Christ. He died so that we may have life, 55 00:04:30,900 --> 00:04:36,339 Speaker 2: John 3.16, and have it abundantly, John 10.10. While our 56 00:04:36,420 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: mortal enemy, Satan, the devil, is trying to destroy us, 57 00:04:41,860 --> 00:04:44,339 Speaker 2: because making us feel alone and lonely is only one 58 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: of his tactics, our Savior is constantly wooing us to him. 59 00:04:49,100 --> 00:04:53,140 Speaker 2: According to Romans 5.10, Jesus Christ is working hard to 60 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:57,500 Speaker 2: reconcile us with our maker, God. When we accept Jesus 61 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,020 Speaker 2: Christ into our heart and decide to live for Him, 62 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,810 Speaker 2: it's like we get a new wind, a new outlook, 63 00:05:03,060 --> 00:05:07,650 Speaker 2: and purpose in life. We are finally secure in something, faith, 64 00:05:08,150 --> 00:05:13,030 Speaker 2: and someone, God, who is unshakable. God cannot die. He 65 00:05:13,089 --> 00:05:16,450 Speaker 2: lives forever, and all His promises to us are true. 66 00:05:17,300 --> 00:05:19,740 Speaker 2: One of God's promises is to be with us to 67 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:23,910 Speaker 2: the end of the age, Matthew 28, verse 20. This 68 00:05:23,990 --> 00:05:26,490 Speaker 2: means our relationship with Jesus Christ is one that will 69 00:05:26,529 --> 00:05:30,380 Speaker 2: span the ages and last forever. He is our most 70 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:35,380 Speaker 2: faithful friend who will literally never leave us nor forsake us. 71 00:05:35,779 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: Hebrews chapter 13, verse 5. Jesus is the only one 72 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 2: who will never let you down and never abandon you. 73 00:05:42,990 --> 00:05:47,430 Speaker 2: Deuteronomy chapter 31, verse 8. Now, this doesn't mean that 74 00:05:47,490 --> 00:05:50,969 Speaker 2: Jesus wants to be your only friend. As I said earlier, 75 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,070 Speaker 2: He created us for a healthy and safe community with 76 00:05:54,130 --> 00:05:57,210 Speaker 2: each other. If you are feeling lonely, reach out to 77 00:05:57,250 --> 00:06:00,250 Speaker 2: God and ask Him to send good friends into your life, 78 00:06:00,730 --> 00:06:03,830 Speaker 2: friends who genuinely love the Lord and who truly care 79 00:06:03,870 --> 00:06:07,719 Speaker 2: about you. When I learned to do this, God began 80 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 2: to bless me above and beyond with wonderful community, healthy 81 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 2: friendships with other Christians. It is a joy and honor 82 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,979 Speaker 2: to experience life with them. God can do the same 83 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,650 Speaker 2: for you if you let Him. So when you're feeling alone, 84 00:06:21,890 --> 00:06:25,469 Speaker 2: remember that you're never alone because Jesus Christ is always 85 00:06:25,510 --> 00:06:29,230 Speaker 2: with you. Turn your pain into prayers and ask him 86 00:06:29,250 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 2: to help you be friends with him first and others second. 87 00:06:32,860 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 2: Ask God for the community you crave and trust him 88 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 2: to send the right people into your life. In closing, 89 00:06:39,180 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 2: I'd like for you to listen and reflect on these 90 00:06:41,740 --> 00:06:45,630 Speaker 2: three songs. Song and Reflection No. 1, Jesus Loves Me 91 00:06:45,910 --> 00:06:50,190 Speaker 2: by Whitney Houston. Song reflection number two, You're Not Alone 92 00:06:50,529 --> 00:06:55,150 Speaker 2: by Meredith Andrews. Song reflection number three, God Loves You 93 00:06:55,650 --> 00:07:00,810 Speaker 2: by Jackie Velasquez. Intersecting faith and life. How does it 94 00:07:00,830 --> 00:07:03,010 Speaker 2: feel to know that when you feel lonely, you are 95 00:07:03,110 --> 00:07:07,310 Speaker 2: never alone because God is always with you? Further reading. 96 00:07:08,060 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 2: Isaiah chapter 41 verse 10. Hebrews chapter 6 verses 17 97 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:19,830 Speaker 2: and 18. Deuteronomy chapter 31 verse 6. 1 Timothy 6, 98 00:07:19,830 --> 00:07:25,790 Speaker 2: verse 16. Psalm 90, verse 2. 99 00:07:28,070 --> 00:07:31,030 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. If you liked what 100 00:07:31,050 --> 00:07:33,150 Speaker 1: you heard today, we want to make sure you know 101 00:07:33,210 --> 00:07:37,150 Speaker 1: about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. 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