You’ve Always Been Known

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

“On the surface, you may not think of yourself as lonely, but part of the definition of loneliness is feeling like no one really knows you well. And that can happen even when people surround you.” I shared these thoughts with a group of women one chilly spring morning in Minnesota.

As I looked around the room, I saw women slowly nodding, acknowledging this common experience. These were moms of littles, and with kids always underfoot, they often don’t think of themselves as lonely. But the longing for connection can be intense. When we unpack loneliness and realize that it’s deeper than just feeling alone, we can usually think of a time when we felt misunderstood or like no one could relate to us.

Usually, after we’ve spoken honestly about this issue, women will approach us, sharing a time when they felt lonely. Often it is a current feeling. With permission to be honest, these women transparently tell us how lonely mothering can sometimes be for them. We nod our understanding, offering encouragement and a reminder that they aren’t alone.

We’ve all experienced loneliness at different points. Whether we were the new kid at school, the new family to a community, or a new member of a church—we know what it’s like to come into a space where people don’t know us well, at least not yet.

But even when we go through these times of loneliness, we can rest assured that we are always known to God. Scripture tells us that God knew us and saw us before we were born. He has recorded every day of our life—that’s how intimately he knows us. And his love and care for us are always near, even when people may not be. Don’t be afraid to reach out to him in a season of loneliness; he will always be there.

Kendra

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Thank God for the ways he has been close to you, even if you are in a season of loneliness.