I have heard it said that loneliness today has become an epidemic. So many people, regardless of their relationship status or their social circle, report feeling lonely. Maybe today you are struggling with feelings of loneliness. For all who struggle with feelings of loneliness, there is good news: We may feel lonely, but we are never alone. God is with us, and He will never, ever leave us. This is the promise we have to cling to when we feel alone.
We are reminded that God is always with us throughout Scripture, including in the book of Hebrews. In Hebrews chapter 13, the writer of Hebrews concludes the book with instructions for how followers of Christ are called to live. As He gave these instructions for Christian living, he said, "Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, 'I will never fail you. I will never abandon you'" (verse 5). Instead of idolizing money or anything else, the writer of Hebrews calls us to look to God, who will never leave us. Now, we understand the truth that God is always with us. Perhaps the teaching that God is always with us is so familiar that we forget just how remarkable this truth is. Our God, the creator of the world and the ruler of everything, is always with us. He will never leave us nor will He abandon us. This, my friends, should give us peace and confidence as we walk through each day. That is why the writer of Hebrews continued, saying, “So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’” (verse 6). Indeed, because God is with us and He is our helper, we can walk boldly every day. God is with us; no one can harm us or stop us.
Maybe today you need a reminder that God is with you and that He is your helper. You are not alone. You are not left to live your life on your own devices. God is with you every step of the way. Walk confidently knowing that He is with you today.
Read Hebrews 13:5-6 out loud three times. As you read these verses out loud, focus on the truth from these verses that God is with you. As you go throughout this day, remind yourself that God is with you, helping you with every step you take.
1Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”
6 So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper,
so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?”
7 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.
10 We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. 13 So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
18 Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. 19 And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.
20 Now may the God of peace—
who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
21 may he equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.
22 I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.
23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you.
24 Greet all your leaders and all the believers there. The believers from Italy send you their greetings.
25 May God’s grace be with you all.
