As the holiday season approaches and Americans look forward to gathering with friends and family, many struggle with a sense of isolation.

According to Barna Group, 1 in 5 adults throughout the U.S. regularly or often feels lonely. Those most likely to say they are lonely include the following:

• males (22 percent of men vs. 15 percent of women);
• young and middle-age adults (25 percent of millennials and 24 percent of Generation X, compared to 13 percent of baby boomers and 6 percent of those born before 1946);
• and the poor (27 percent of low-income vs. 13 percent of high-income individuals).

Feelings of loneliness and isolation often increase around the holidays and can contribute to seasonal depression, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). In fact, NAMI reports that 64 percent of Americans suffer from some form of “holiday blues,” which can include feelings of loneliness, sadness, loss, fatigue, tension and frustration.

The Church should be a refuge for the lonely and hurting. After all, Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us. This season, as you plan your holiday messages and events, think about how you can encourage those who feel alone — offering them a place of community and friendship and pointing them to the One whose very name reminds us we are not alone (Matthew 1:23).