Latest / HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN® / Faith in Todays world Ep:2 The Loneliness Epidemic

Transcript

Faith in Todays world Ep:2 The Loneliness Epidemic · HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN®

• 0:00
  The world changes every day, but God's truth never does.
• 0:05
  Welcome to Faith in Today's World, a special series from Half-Faith Let It Begin.
• 0:11
  I'm Angel Santana. Today, we'll explore today's headlines, everyday challenges,
• 0:17
  and the questions people are asking and discover what God's Word has to say about them.
• 0:24
  Because while the world keeps changing, our hope remains the same. Jesus Christ.
• 0:30
  Have Faith, Let It Begin starts right now.
• 0:34
  Welcome to Have Faith, Let It Begin. This is Ariel Santana.
• 0:38
  Can you believe I'm seven years old already? I'm old enough now to introduce my dad.
• 0:44
  Ladies and gentlemen, your host, my dad, Angel Santana.
• 0:51
  Two thousand came and the spark was lit. A testimony raw, it wouldn't quit.
• 0:56
  His mother's voice, a guiding thread.
• 1:25
  Thank you, Noah. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Have Faith,
• 1:28
  Let It Begin. I'm Angel Santana, alongside with me, my son, Noah.
• 1:31
  This is episode two of Faith in Today's World.
• 1:35
  Today's topic is one that affects millions of people, even if they never talk about it.
• 1:41
  Loneliness. It's amazing, isn't it? We can send a text in seconds,
• 1:46
  video chat with family across the country have hundreds, even thousands of followers
• 1:51
  on social media, and yet many people have never felt more alone.
• 1:56
  We live in a world where we're consistently connected to devices,
• 2:00
  but often disconnected from people.
• 2:03
  We scroll, we like, we comment.
• 2:06
  But how often do we truly connect?
• 2:09
  Loneliness isn't just about being by yourself. Sometimes the loneliest places
• 2:14
  in the world is a crowded room where nobody realize or really knows what you're carrying.
• 2:20
  Maybe you have felt that way. I know I have. There have been moments in my life
• 2:24
  where I was surrounded by people, yet I still felt isolated.
• 2:29
  Not because people didn't care, but because I wasn't letting anyone know what was really going on.
• 2:35
  Listen to these words from Psalms 34, verse 18.
• 2:39
  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
• 2:45
  The word of the Lord, thanks be to God.
• 2:48
  I love that verse. Notice what it doesn't say. It doesn't say God waits until we're strong.
• 2:55
  It says he comes close when we're hurting, when we're broken, when we feel forgotten.
• 3:02
  God moves toward us, not away from us.
• 3:06
  One of the greatest lies loneliness tells us is this, nobody would understand.
• 3:13
  But the truth is, every person you meet is fighting and battling,
• 3:18
  you know, nothing about.
• 3:20
  That's right. The cashier who smiled, the co-worker who seemed quiet,
• 3:25
  the neighbor who keeps to themselves, they may be carrying somebody or something
• 3:30
  incredibly difficult in their life.
• 3:33
  Sometimes one conversation, one phone call, and how are you really can help
• 3:40
  change someone's entire day.
• 3:43
  Yep, even one foot forward, Noah. I've shared before that there have been many
• 3:48
  times in my life where I struggled.
• 3:50
  There were times I questioned things, times I felt discouraged.
• 3:54
  And one of the greatest blessings God gave me wasn't a perfect answer. It was people.
• 4:00
  People who prayed. People who listened. People who simply showed up.
• 4:05
  Something or sometimes God answers to our loneliness.
• 4:10
  It comes through another person who was willing to care.
• 4:14
  Yeah. And all working. Exactly, Noah. Sometimes it does work and sometimes it doesn't work.
• 4:19
  But sometimes God's answer to our loneliness comes through another person who's
• 4:22
  willing to care. That's what's going on here, Noah.
• 4:25
  Do you know, today's faith challenge is simple.
• 4:28
  Reach out to one person. Not with a text that says, hey.
• 4:32
  Instead ask How are you really Then Yeah let's push for it Then let's try this
• 4:40
  You may never know how much that conversation means So listen,
• 4:46
  Remember, just remember that Jesus often steps away from the crowds to pray,
• 4:52
  but he never intended us to live life completely alone.
• 4:55
  The church isn't just building. It's a family, a place where burdens are shared,
• 5:01
  where hope is restored, where people remind us each and every day, and they remind us.
• 5:07
  Each of us, I should say, that you don't have to walk this road by yourself.
• 5:11
  Just as I'm in this room right now with my son, we're walking together.
• 5:15
  So let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for always being close to us,
• 5:19
  especially during the moments that we feel alone.
• 5:22
  Open our eyes to the people around us who may be hurting.
• 5:26
  Help us to notice them. Help us to encourage them. And if someone is listening
• 5:30
  today that feels forgotten, remind them that you never left them.
• 5:35
  Fill their hearts with your peace. Surround them with people who will love and support them.
• 5:41
  And help each of us become that person for someone else. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
• 5:48
  Well, thank you for joining me with another episode here with my son,
• 5:50
  Noah. And this series is called Faith in Today's World, a special series from
• 5:55
  us here at Have Faith, Let It Begin.
• 5:56
  Remember, the world changes every day, but God's truth never does.
• 6:02
  Go into today with faith. Choose kindness. Reach out to someone who needs encouragement.
• 6:08
  And never forget to have faith and let it begin.
• 6:13
  And don't forget, tomorrow we continue on with this series. So next time on
• 6:17
  Faith in Today's World, we live in a culture where everyone seems to have an opinion.
• 6:22
  Families disagree. Friends argue. Social media often rewards outrage more than understanding.
• 6:29
  But what if Christians or people of faith were called to respond differently?
• 6:35
  Episode three is tomorrow. Loving people would disagree with.
• 6:39
  That's the name of the title. Because grace doesn't require agreement,
• 6:43
  but it does require love.
• 6:45
  I'm going to take Noah outside, and I hope all of you will join us for tomorrow's episode.
• 6:49
  Take care. Noah, can you tell everybody to have faith and let it begin?
• 6:53
  Bye. Say hasta la pasta. Hasta la pasta.