Transforming Loneliness: Deepening Our Relationships with God and Others When We Feel Alone

by Ruth Graham, Cindy Lambert (Primary Contributor)

Loneliness knows no season. It can strike during times of busyness and a full social calendar just as easily as it can when plans are canceled and friends are far off. And we may be surprised just how common loneliness is among our friends, family, and colleagues. But it isn't inevitable and it isn't forever.In Transforming Loneliness, Graham invites you to surrender your loneliness to God and work with Him in making healthy choices that lead to life, joy, and community. Through biblical principles and examples, along with true-life stories, you will discover how the core needs that drive your loneliness--the need to be known, to be chosen, to belong, and to be valued--can be met as God transforms your loneliness into a positive experience that accomplishes His purposes and draws you into a closer, more intimate, and more meaningful relationship with Him and others.Loneliness is not the last word. God designed you for connection, and through his power you will find it. Includes a reader's discussion guide and the UCLA Loneliness Survey.

Genres: Christian, Christian Non Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published September 14, 2021

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Graham is the child of Billy Graham & Ruth Bell Graham

Reviews

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Chapter 6 to the end, but thought the 1st 5 chapters were a little boring besides the interesting statistics on loneliness.

[Betsy Hover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely fantastic book. Will pass on to others.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderful! If you have ever had times of loneliness or have felt disconnected, overlooked or disenfranchised, this book is for you! Ruth Graham shows us numerous people in the Bible who, for one reason or another, were “on the outside”, shunned, or experiencing a time of feeling alone. She reminds us how special they were to God and that they were never truly alone. Graham presents the point that when feeling lonely, we can lean in to our relationship with God and also, reinvigorate our human relationships and focus on loving others. The main truth is that “we were created for relationship”. This book really ministered to me. If you read this book, I know it will impact you, as well.

[LAMONT D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very powerful book with plenty of resources and applications if you are dealing with loneliness. Appendix A contains the plan of salvation. Appendix B is the UCLA Loneliness Scale which scored me as being lonely (which may be true). Appendix C is great because it has plenty of prayers and scriptures that address the issue. And finally, the Discussion Guide at the end has some great questions for the reader from each chapter. Her acronym "REACH" contains some very practical applications of her plan for you to overcome some of these barriers and obstacles that can hinder you in this trap of loneliness. I believe the book is very well researched and balanced as it approaches the topic from a scholarly point of view as well as spiritually.

[Laura Pettit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated the real life stories, the scripture verses and the exercise REACH at end of each chapter.