Ecclesiastes 4:9-16

Lonely

For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. but woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. ~ Ecclesiastes 4:10

I’ve had my share of lonely seasons in life. Times when relationships didn’t work out and times when I moved away from everyone I knew to start something new. In those moments, I relied on God’s grace to get me through. His grace is always enough for whatever we face, but even so, it isn’t His best for us to walk through life alone.

From the very beginning of time, God created us to be in relationships. When He established the first marriage, He said that it was not good for people to be alone (Genesis 2:18). We were designed to live in community. Without companionship, we lack accountability, encouragement, and support. As today’s key verse points out, when we stumble, whether it’s physically, emotionally, or spiritually, we need others to help us get back up on our feet.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-16 reminds us of the power and beauty of companionship. Two people working together can accomplish more than one alone. When challenges arise, having someone by your side provides strength and resilience. Relationships also bring warmth and comfort in difficult seasons. And when we stand together, we are stronger, like a threefold cord that cannot be easily broken.

Even the most independent people benefit from the encouragement and accountability that godly relationships provide. Scripture highlights the importance of wise counsel and supportive companionship, warning us against the pride and stubbornness that can arise from isolation (Proverbs 18:1).

If you find yourself in a season of loneliness or isolation, there are practical steps you can take to cultivate meaningful connections:

1. Seek Out Community: Join a local church, small group, or Bible study. Being part of a faith-based community offers support, encouragement, and spiritual growth.
2. Be Vulnerable: Open up to trusted friends or mentors. Authentic relationships are built on honesty and transparency.
3. Offer Support to Others: Sometimes the best way to find companionship is by being a friend to someone else. Look for opportunities to serve and encourage others.
4. Pray for Godly Relationships: Ask God to bring people into your life who will encourage you, challenge you, and walk alongside you in faith.
5. Stay Connected: Make time for regular conversations, whether through phone calls, video chats, or in-person meetings. Consistent connection strengthens relationships.

Here are some suggestions of how you can get started connecting with others even as early as today.

• Evaluate Your Relationships: Take a moment to reflect on the people in your life. Are there relationships you need to invest in? Are there areas where you need to step out of your comfort zone and build new connections?
• Make the First Move: Reach out to someone today. It could be a simple text to check in, a coffee invitation, or a prayerful note of encouragement.
• Trust God’s Timing: Building meaningful relationships takes time. Be patient and faithful, knowing that God will provide the right people at the right time.

Today I want to encourage you to remember that loneliness is not God’s design for us. While there may be times when we walk through difficult seasons alone, we are never truly without support. God is with us, and He often works through the people He places in our lives. Just as Ecclesiastes 4:10 reminds us, companionship brings strength, comfort, and resilience.

So, take that step today. Seek out community, nurture your relationships, and be the friend who lifts others up. By doing this, you will experience the joy of walking through life together, stronger, encouraged, and never alone.

Today’s scripture reading: Ecclesiastes 4:9-16

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.

14 For he comes out of prison to be king, although he was born poor in his kingdom.

15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place.

16 There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.