The Crisis Behind the Smile Loneliness is not always visible. Yet, for many, the ache of disconnection is both real and persistent. As a professor in a graduate social work program and a biblical counselor, I regularly meet individuals who describe feeling “surrounded...
With my hands shaking, jaw locked, and stomach in knots, I entered the church looking for the closest exit. After a long hiatus from the church world, I was only there to support my husband, a care pastor at another church. The impact of the spiritual abuse I endured...
“… It is not good for the man to be alone….” – Genesis 2:18, NASB His message came from an e-mail… two lines, no greeting. “I don’t belong anymore. I’m not sure I ever did.” Jeremy had been an usher for years, was a regular with one of the men’s Bible studies, and was...
Introduction There is indeed a loneliness epidemic in the United States, as proclaimed by former U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy (Murthy, 2023). According to the latest Gallup poll estimates, 20-30% of Americans struggle with loneliness, which is worse among...
Brooke sat with her face in her hands. Tears streamed through her fingers as she shifted her weight on my leather couch, letting out a quiet sob. After a few minutes, she grabbed her hair in frustration and looked up. Our eyes met, hers pleading for someone to fix...
Guiding readers back to God’s word in a sea of confusion. by Dr. Natalie Atwell Gaslighting is a popular term these days. There are videos all over social media about this specific word. The term gaslight actually dates back to a 1938 British play called Gas Light,...
