Does it sometimes feel like everyone around you belongs in this world, but you don’t? Does it feel like you don’t have a “place” in this world or don’t fit in? Does it feel like you’ve been abandoned or left behind by someone?

You’re not alone if you feel like this. Almost everyone goes through periods of darkness or loneliness from time to time. For some, these periods only last a few days. For others, these feelings may last for months or even years. 

Mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression can cause people to feel lonely or isolated. However, feeling isolated or like you don’t belong in this world isn’t always the result of a mental health condition. Here are some reasons why you may feel like you don’t belong in this world. 

• You’re struggling to see your worth or value.

You may be struggling to see your worth or value. If you’re thinking lowly about yourself, it makes sense that you may not feel like you belong in this world. Luckily, the Bible tells us where we can find our worth.

Our value isn’t found in ourselves. Our actual value and worth are found in Christ. Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

If you’re struggling to see your value, recognize that God sees immense value in you. In fact, He sent His only Son to die for your sins and trespasses.

John 3:16 (ESV) says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

• You may not recognize that God has a plan for your life. 

We live in a world where people constantly urge us to plan ahead. Social media tells us that we have to work overtime to get ahead in our careers, relationships or financial status. News outlets bring us stories of negativity and failure every single day. 

It can be easy to obsess over planning every aspect of your future, especially if you constantly see stories of failure on the news. However, none of us can plan out our entire lives — it’s both exhausting and impossible. 

If you feel like your future is up in the air and out of your control, you might not feel like you belong in this world. Rest in the fact that God has a plan for you. Even before you were born, God knew you and had a plan for your life. He is working all things for the good, even when you may feel like your life is chaotic. 

Psalm 139:13 (ESV) says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.”

• You feel abandoned by God. 

If you’ve gone through times of hardship or loneliness in your life, it may cause you to believe that God has abandoned you or even that He doesn’t love you. This could even cause you to feel like you don’t belong in this world. 

Many people in the Bible went through trials. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Job went through a time of immense suffering. Many of David’s psalms reflect his struggles and his cries to God. While people may abandon you and fail you, God never has, and He never will. 

Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV) says, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Here’s what you need to know if you feel like you don’t belong in this world

All of us go through times of loneliness or isolation at some point in our lives, but that doesn’t mean that God has abandoned us or that He doesn’t love us. All of us have a seat at God’s table and are invited to rest in His peace. God knows your struggles, and He has a plan to work all things in your life for His good.

Ephesians 2:5-6 (ESV) tells us that God, “even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

Mental health matters

While some people may find that they feel isolated during certain seasons of life, others may experience this constant darkness due to a mental illness. If you think that is you, please reach out to a mental health professional for help. Depression and other conditions do not have to define your life; you just need to take the step toward getting help. Check out our resources page for more information, and know that you are not alone. We personally and as a community have walked and continue to walk the road toward mental wellness. We understand the struggle to take the first step, and we have experienced the freedom that counseling can bring. We’re here for you every step of the way.