Loneliness. We all experience it at some point in our lives. Sometimes it's a temporary feeling, but other times it can grip so hard that you feel emotionally paralyzed by it. It can leave you depressed, hurting, and feeling helpless.
Public health experts tell us we're in a loneliness epidemic. Consider these statistics (compiled by the "Roots of Loneliness" project):
52% of Americans report feeling lonely while 47% report their relationships with others are not meaningful.
58% of Americans reported that they sometimes or always feel like no one knows them well.
One study revealed that 80% of people under the age of 18 are lonely sometimes vs 40% of those over 65.
43% of those aged 17-25 feel lonely and less than half of them feel loved, according to a survey by Action for Children among those who used their services.
The percentage of lonely high school seniors went from 26% in 2012 to 39% in 2017.
Fear of loneliness is especially high among millennial women: 42% say they are more afraid of loneliness than a cancer diagnosis.
The Bible offers hope. You are not helpless. God gives help to the lonely soul.
From May 9- July 9, we'll explore Biblical truths to help you re-frame your thinking, transform your perspective, and empower you to deal with loneliness in new and creative ways. Through this series, you'll learn how God has shaped you for relationship and community, how you can enjoy community with God, and how to receive the community that God has provided you.
As an added feature for this series, we're offering a special Sermon Summary email. Sign up for this weekly email to receive a summary of the main points of the teaching, links to additional resources, and opportunities to share with us what you're learning about how God helps the lonely soul. This will be a great resource to make sure you don't miss a single week of teaching. Whether you worship with us in person or watch on Facebook, take this opportunity to further your spiritual growth: