An article by David Kinnaman of the Barna research group was recently published, highlighting the fact that this pandemic has only served to exacerbate the deep relational problems that people in our society had already been dealing with well before anyone had ever heard the term COVID-19.
Particularly, Kinnaman talks about how “the gnawing problem of loneliness is growing.” A snapshot poll taken by his research group during the pandemic found that half of all adults said they experience loneliness at least weekly, and one third of adults say that loneliness affects their most important relationships.
And while feelings of loneliness persist across age groups, 18-22-year-olds were the loneliest cohort. Two in every three in that age group were lonely at least weekly.
Whether or not you’ve been experiencing loneliness lately, we invite you to fix your eyes on Jesus, and open your ears to what he has to say in John’s gospel about true friendship.
It’s about sacrificial faithfulness, vulnerable openness, and sharing in a purpose and mission greater than yourself. Most of all, it’s our prayer that you will personally experience Jesus as your truest Friend.
