Solutions April 2017 | Page 65

Q: Anna, you’re the Social Media Co- ordinator at (in)courage. You’ve been married for ten years and have three kids under five. I believe you found (in)courage about seven years ago when you were in a very lonely sea- son, and you’ve been a part of the community ever since! What do you want readers to learn from the new book Craving Connection? nities and create lasting friendships as well. In this time of smartphones, Twit- ter and filtered timelines, our cravings for connection may be stronger than ever because they only get half-met. Q: You talk about how fear holds us back; why is it important to conquer fear? A: God promises in 1 Timothy that He A: That is correct. First off, I hope the hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of readers of Craving Connection realize power, love, and self-discipline. We that they are not alone in the pursuit need to conquer fear so that we can of real friendships. That they are not embrace and nurture the spirits He the only ones who have struggled with does give! Fear blocks us from fully developing and maintaining friends. living into who He made us to be, and That they are not the only women has no place in real friendships. who have been hurt by other women. None of us are alone in this! Second, I Q: Tell readers about the connection pray that the readers feel a stirring for challenges they will find in the book. deeper connection within their com- munity, within their friendships, and A: At the end of each chapter, the within their relationship with the Lord. writers offer a Connection Challenge. These three bonds are so important These challenges are practical, able for women, and most of our cravings to be done in our everyday lives with- for real connection begin in one (or out too much work, BUT they are very more) of these three spaces. intentional in the ways they help fulfill our cravings for connection. Each Q: Do you think people are craving challenge is specifically designed to connection now more than in the help us connect with God, our friends, past? Why? and/or our communities. The chal- lenges range from purposefully pray- A: I do. There is real and true value ing for a friend to inviting people into in the friendships we cultivate online. our homes, asking someone for for- During the loneliest time in my life, giveness to completing a random act online friendships were my lifeline. For of kindness. Each challenge will abso- various reasons it wasn’t feasible for lutely deepen the ways you connect me to nurture ‘real life’ relationships, with others! and the friends I made via the Inter- net helped to see me through some Q: What ages will benefit from this de- dark times. But nothing beats face-to- votional? face connection. I think sometimes we feel like we’re fulfilling our cravings A: Craving Connection is perfect for for connection with our online friends, college women to grandmothers, but we all need to live in our commu- high school small groups to ladies Solutions 65