In the beginning, God declared that it was not good for human beings to be alone. Yet the ache of loneliness is rampant in our societies, knowing no boundaries of age, sex, geography, culture, or religion.
This book offers the reader a robust theological understanding of loneliness as a multifaceted phenomenon impacting the lives of believers. It identifies five different types of loneliness - emotional, social, cultural, existential, and spiritual - and illustrates each type through well-known biblical narratives, exploring what each narrative reveals about the relational nature of God and the humans created in his likeness. Yet beyond a theological framework, this book also provides practical and effective strategies for understanding and combating loneliness in the contexts of our contemporary lives. It pays particular attention to the historic and contemporary challenges of singleness and celibacy, especially as experienced in collectivist cultures and evangelical contexts.
Chornobai and Hrytsenko aim to equip all those suffering from loneliness - as well as those walking alongside them, whether pastors, counselors, or social workers - to better understand the inner and outer factors impacting their experience and to find more effective strategies for coping and thriving.