When You Feel Alone, You Don’t Have To Be
Have you ever scrolled through your phone for "just five minutes" and come away feeling like the whole world is on fire and you're the only one not equipped to fight it? Yeah, me too. More often than I'd like to admit.
The Noise That Never Sleeps
Turn on the news, and within thirty seconds you're bombarded with war, inflation, crime, and some fresh disaster you didn't even know existed yesterday. Scroll through social media, and it's somehow worse. Everyone else's life looks perfectly curated while yours feels like a dumpster fire held together with duct tape and prayer. Add in the endless parade of "experts" offering solutions that boil down to "just love yourself more" or "manifest your best life," and you've got a recipe for feeling completely, hopelessly alone.
Even the things meant to give us a break from reality don't always deliver. I love a good Hallmark movie or a cozy mystery novel as much as the next person. But let's be honest: once the credits roll or the last page turns, the real world is still waiting for me, and I still feel that little ache of emptiness. Escapism is fun, but it's not filling.
We Weren't Built to Do This Alone
God never intended for us to walk through this life in isolation. Scripture is packed with reminders that we need each other.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
That verse isn't just about marriage or business partnerships. It's about the beautiful, practical truth that we are stronger together. When life knocks us down (and it will), we need someone nearby who can reach out a hand and say, "Get up, friend. I've got you." That's not weakness. That's God's design.
Of course, the Word of God and prayer are our anchors in this life. Nothing replaces time in the Bible or on our knees before the Lord. But God also gave us the body of Christ for a reason. We were never meant to be lone rangers in the Christian life.
Enter Substack (Yes, the Newsletter Thing)
So let me introduce you to a little corner of the internet that has become my second home: Substack.
If you haven't heard of it, Substack is a publishing platform where writers (like me) share newsletters, articles, and reflections directly with readers who subscribe. Most content is free, though some is paid, but the heart of it is connection through the written word. It's not a "Christian platform" by design. You'll find writers on there covering politics, cooking, tech, comedy, you name it.
But here's the beautiful surprise I've discovered: there is a thriving, faithful community of Christian writers on Substack who are using their little corner of it to point people to Jesus. Every day, I get to read devotions, testimonies, and encouraging notes from believers scattered all over the world, all sharing the love of Christ in their own voice and style.
What makes it different from regular social media? For starters, there's no endless doom-scrolling algorithm designed to keep you anxious and outraged. Substack is built around actual writing. It's full of longer, thoughtful pieces rather than quick, reactionary soundbites. The "Notes" feature lets you interact with other writers and readers in short bursts, kind of like a gentler, kinder version of other platforms, minus the political rants and comment-section warfare. It feels less like shouting into a void and more like sitting on a porch swing having a real conversation with a friend.
Come Sit With Me
Again, I want to stress that Substack is not a replacement for your Bible or your prayer closet. Nothing is, and nothing should be! But it has become a wonderful supplement, a place where I find fellow believers who remind me weekly that I'm not fighting this battle solo. When the world feels like too much, I open my Substack app and find encouragement waiting for me from someone who's walking a similar road.
On Substack, I'll be sharing the kinds of things I can't always fit into my regular blog, such as personal notes, behind-the-scenes glimpses, tidbits from my Bible studies, extra book information, and devotional posts. I will still be posting my devotions on my main blog as well, but the extra bits and closer conversation will live over on Substack.
So, if you're tired of the noise, weary of feeling alone in your struggles, and craving genuine Christian fellowship without leaving your couch, I'd love for you to join me over there. Come find a safe place to connect, encourage, and be encouraged. We're better together, and I'd love for you to be part of my "together."
