The conclusion of the When I Feel Alone series: Discusses Naaman and his path from brokenness to restoration. What role does the church play in combating feelings of loneliness? Does God want us by ourselves because people in the church have flaws? What is God's plan for people who feel alone and how can we find companionship in Him? This episode focuses on restoration of relationships and recaps lessons from previous episodes.
All Ever-Present Episodes
Choose from all Ever-Present broadcasts or select a topic from the menu.
As we have discussed in the past few episodes, Naaman had an illness which not only debilitated him physically, but also emotionally and socially. This week we are taking a look at Naaman’s path to finding healing. It’s interesting that Naaman’s healing would not come from a place that he recognized, it came from an unexpected source.
How can un-forgiveness be leprous to our relationships? What does the Bible say about relationships and forgiveness? How can we learn from God's example about how powerful forgiveness can be? What impact does unforgiveness have on our lives? Should we constantly remember faults? Should there still be consequences even when there is forgiveness?
As we explore the subject of feeling alone, does technology and social media play a role in the weakening of our most important relationships? Has the next generation become too desensitized, plugged in, and disconnected from the real world? How does this condition fulfill end time prophecies? How can God make the difference in restoring broken relationships?
Why do some people push others away in order to avoid pain? Do relationships require risk? What does the Bible say about taking risks in building relationships? Is it healthy to shut people out of our lives or assume that they will hurt us even before they've ever done so?
The end of the story of Ruth and Boaz shows us how God often has a plan that we often can't see until we look back at how he has led us. Often God provides for us through the advice and wisdom of God fearing people He sends into our lives. Many feel alone because they don't have people close to them that can give them good counsel. What kind of people do you have in your life? Do you have friends that don't tell you what you want to hear? Can love look like correction?
How does God provide for us at times when we feel alone? Does God sometimes use people to bless us in times of need? Do we sometimes go through suffering without realizing and seeing how God is leaving us examples of His love to sustain us? How does the story of Ruth and Naomi help us to see how God is ever-present when we feel most alone?
Has God ever led you to a place in your life where you felt alone? Are there times when you feel alone because you don't understand God's leading and direction? Sometimes we can be where God wants us to be--even in the church--and still feel alone because others don't recognize God's working in our lives. Ruth and Naomi were in Bethlehem Judah, the place where God wanted them to be, yet still felt alone because no one understood where God was leading them.
Naomi was alone because there was death in her family. The reality of death makes many people feel alone. Everyone can think of close friends or loved ones and relatives that have passed away. In Naomi’s situation, she lost the people that were closest to her. She was hit with the reality that the people she spent the majority of her time with were now no longer here. Had God abandoned her? Does God care when we feel alone because we lose people we love?
One of the reasons why we feel alone is because like Naomi in the story of Ruth, we push people out of our lives. In the same way we often push God out of our lives at times when we most need Him. God sends people into our lives to give us comfort, encouragement, wisdom, and strength. He created man a social being. Sometimes we're alone because we push others away trying not to get hurt.
Are there ever times when you feel alone? You may be a person that has lots of friends or even family, but you may go through times in which you feel misunderstood, out of place, or alone because the people closest to you, don’t really get you! There are times when we can be surrounded by people but still feel like we’re alone. One of the greatest lessons of the Bible is that no matter how alone we may feel, regardless of the circumstances, God is always present with us.
The final episode of our series on suffering and illness, the panel discusses the woman with the issue of blood and Jairus' daughter. What does the Bible mean by the "Prayer of Faith". Could we see more miracles if there were more faith? Is God ever too late? Can lack of faith hinder miracles? Why did Jesus choose not to perform miracles around people present who lacked faith?