Joni Eareckson Tada No Longer Alone

Joni Eareckson Tada uses life experiences to illustrate gut wrenching emptiness.  I'm always eager to use the scriptures that Joni shares in her pamphlets. I have a widows ministry where I run errands and visit and encourage widows in my church and family. Loneliness may occur from death, divorce, job loss, or any change in circumstances. "When loneliness is coupled with physical pain it can be a dangerous potion. " Joni quotes Mother Theresa "Loneliness and a feeling of being uncared for or unwanted are the greatest poverty." She encourages the lonely to take the focus off self and onto God who then strengthens them to care for someone in greater distress. I enjoy the fact that the photographs in her pamphlets include people with disabilities. There are places a wheel chair user can volunteer. Lonely people can improve their situation if they get involved: such as join a book club, volunteer at a senior citizens center, help students do their homework, volunteer at hospitals, libraries, animal shelters. I specially like the page that encourages us to look for divine encounters. God will remember your needs and bring someone into your life. If we approach new people with this outlook, it can be a bold step to overcome loneliness. Since I'm reading this after Easter I enjoyed the examples of Christ. Even in His sorrow when he was forsaken by His father, rejected, and suffered terrible pain He thought of others from the cross. Jesus gives us power to do the same. Joni shares an anecdote about Dorothy Williams the British missionary who trained nurses in west Africa. This lesson teaches us the Devils instruments is a tool of discouragement. The Bible repeat 112 times do not be afraid. Hebrews 4:12 is our shiny sharp tool to use against our adversary. Joni's  compares our emotions to a restless tide with ebb and flow drawing us up and pushing us down down. She suggest during these times to remember the sunnier days: our blessings are gifts from God the Father. "Never doubt in the darkness what you once believed in the light." Joni shares her desert of solitude and her lonely times she sought the fellowship of the Lord Jesus. Her loneliness drove her to a deeper relationship with her Savior. One section shares the authors view of the spiritual world of angels and demons. God's angels actually rejoice when we trust and obey God. "Friend you're life is on display for millions of unseen beings." Demons and angels are watching to see if God sustaining grace really is sustaining your life. There are several prayers scattered throughout the pages which are very uplifting and meaningful. I will use them in my own prayer life. Rose Publishing gifted me with this resource for a fair and honest review.