In her book Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose, Jennifer Wallace hits on an idea that goes to the heart of the loneliness epidemic. She says it’s not just a lack of company that gives us our sense of isolation. It’s actually the feeling of not mattering to those in our lives. There are plenty of practical ways to gain that sense of mattering to others. But Christianity—even beyond church membership—makes all the difference, creating an inward sense of mattering as we experience the Gospel’s power.

Many people in society feel the desire to matter, since the old ways of mattering to others—such as having a deeply rooted neighborhood, going to church multiple times a week, or simply having the responsibility and joy of many children—seem to be fading. Many of us have streamlined our various ways of connecting into one central sense of purpose: our careers, with time-saving text messaging or social media serving as our primary means of connection.

There seems to be a movement of people pushing back against the isolation of modern society, seeking to ensure that they matter to others. Whether by setting aside time to go deeper with friends or by taking on a volunteering role, many people are finding ways to matter.

The most fundamental way to matter, however, is by finding that significance in Christianity. Jennifer Wallace dismisses Christianity’s promise by describing it as a relic of the past. But the Gospel is always relevant. It is the highest way to matter. When you experience the Gospel—the love of God poured out in the sacrifice of His Son on the cross—you realize how much you matter to God. This is the primary source—a well of mattering that flows up in our hearts and even helps us make others feel less alone.