Hebrews 10:24 and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds,

Social media and online interactions aside, we all know what it feels like to be alone in a crowd. Sometimes we experience a sense of isolation and not belonging even when we’re with family and friends. Both are normal experiences, but they can also push us closer to our cave of depression if left unchecked. When we feel lonely and isolated, we’re at greater risk for withdrawing even more.

That seems to be what happened to Elijah in his struggle. We’re told, “When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there” (1 Kings 19:3). Perhaps feeling overwhelmed by fear, uncertainty, doubt, and despair, Elijah may have concluded it was best to deal with his issues on his own. Maybe he wanted time to process what was happening inside him—to sort himself out.

He may have thought he needed solitude, but Elijah experienced isolation. Not long after leaving his servant behind, we’re told in the very next verse, Elijah felt like he wanted to die. Alone with the panicked voices in his head, he had no one who could reason with him or remind him of what was true. And so he retreated to the darkness of the cave and hid from reality.

You and I are wired to need relationships. Family. Friends. People who share different facets of our lives. We need people especially when we’re struggling because they can provide other perspectives that remind us what’s true. They can protect and defend us when we’re vulnerable and weak. In his reflection on relationships, Solomon noted, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT).

God never meant for us to handle life on our own. We’re made for relationships. We’re better together.

We are designed by God for connections and cooperation. We are created for intimacy. We function best in a tribe—a social community linked together by a common bond, to accomplish something none of us could do on our own.So, how often do we need encouragement, anyway? Is a yearly pat on the back from our employer good enough? Do our families need to hear kind words from us weekly? How needy are we, really? Turns out, we humans are pretty needy. We need food daily. We need sleep daily. Our hearts need encouragement daily, too.

Having supportive people in your life is invaluable; they provide the courage to persevere, instill hope, and help you maintain your faith. If you’re not currently part of a community of believers, consider seeking out godly friends who can encourage you each day. Fortunately, one effective way to find such a community is by encouraging others yourself.

The World Health Organization’s latest data shows the most significant rise in mental health challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a 26% rise in anxiety and a 28% increase in depression rates within just one year. Today, 301 million people struggle with anxiety disorders, and 58 million of them are children and adolescents. More than 280 million people worldwide face depression, including 23 million young people. These depression statistics highlight the urgent need for improved mental health treatment and awareness. https://lealmind.com/global-mental-health-statistics-2025/