A Prayer for When You Feel Left Out - Your Daily Prayer - August 1

A Prayer for When You Feel Left Out
By Emily Rose Massey

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,  but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24, NIV).

Recently, I had trouble getting passed some disappointment of not being invited to a special wedding with some younger friends from our church. I found myself growing jealous and resentful when I saw photos of who else was invited. “What! They haven’t known them as long as we have, and they were invited!” I mentioned my frustrations to my husband, and he encouraged me to talk to God about it so it didn’t begin to affect my heart to the point where I became embittered towards our friends. In times like these, it is very easy for offense to take root, and if we are not careful, we begin to see and treat people differently. Even though it wasn’t the end of the world that we didn’t receive an invitation to this occasion, it was very obvious and simple to me- I was still dealing with rejection, and this situation triggered it once again. I felt left out. I was transported back to 6^th grade when I spent many days in the cafeteria sitting by myself, eating my lunch alone because I wasn’t asked to sit by anyone. Yet, in this disappointment, I was reminded that there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24, NIV).

Although Proverbs 18:24 doesn’t necessarily say that friend is Jesus, I know that He will always be there for me, even when everyone else fails me. Scripture tells us that God never leaves us or forsakes us in Deuteronomy 31:6. This truth from the Old Testament about our never-changing God is also stated again as a reminder in Hebrews 13, along with this powerful truth that people will fail us, and people may reject us, but we should not fear, for God is on our side. He is our helper.

When we face rejection from others, we must remember that Jesus understands more than anyone what rejection feels like, as He is very familiar with it Himself. Many people rejected Jesus (and continue to do so) while He was here on earth; even one of His very own disciples (Judas) rejected Him and betrayed Him. And just a couple of hours later, another one of His closest disciples (Peter) rejected knowing Him. Three times to be exact. Aren’t you so thankful for Jesus’ forgiveness when we turn our backs on Him? He gives us so many opportunities to repent and make things right in our relationship with Him! His mercies towards us are new every single morning…oh, what love! The Lord understands our pain regarding rejection, and His arms are open wide, so let us be quick to draw near to Him. Lo, He is always with you…even to the end of the age!

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father,
You know my heart and see my pain before I ever speak a word, but You long for me to make my requests known to You by being honest and intentional in seeking You first, no matter what. Help me to remember that You are near to the brokenhearted and that I can run into Your safety when I feel crushed by my circumstances and disappointments. I know You alone can satisfy my soul more than any other relationship in life. Thank You for setting the lonely in families and for calling me Your child. I don’t want to hold onto this pain of rejection. I want to heal from the wounds of those who have hurt me intentionally or unintentionally. I choose to forgive. Your Son was rejected, even by You, for a moment when He took the punishment of sin, out of love for me. Thank You, Jesus, for being the friend I need who sticks by me no matter what. I love You, Lord. Thank You for always loving me and never leaving me.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/fizkes

Emily Massey began writing short stories and poetry as a little girl, entered the blogging world in her early 20s, and published her first book in 2015. She enjoys being a homeschooling momma of four boys, while still being able to pursue her passion as a writer. Believing she has been forgiven much, she loves much, and desires to point others to Christ and His redemptive and transforming power, especially by sharing truth found in God’s written word. If you would like to connect with Emily, you can visit www.emilyrosemassey.com.

Related Resource: How to Choose Your One Word for 2026

This month on the How to Study the Bible Podcast, we’re starting a new series called One Word 2026, and it’s meant to be a gentle but intentional way to reflect, respond, and reconnect with God as we begin the year. In this episode, I’m walking you through why I love taking the whole month of January to pause and listen — rather than rushing into resolutions or putting pressure on yourself to “get it all together” by January 1. We’re going to start with Philippians 1:3–11, where Paul reminds us that we can have real confidence because God is still working in us, and He’s not finished.

Then I’m going to share six words I’ve been praying over for our community — six spiritual intentions that I believe reflect the kind of growth God may be inviting us into this year. You don’t have to choose one right away, and you definitely don’t have to force it — but I hope that one of these words will resonate in your spirit and give you a steady anchor for 2026.

 This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!