In our modern world, we're facing an epidemic that's as lethal as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day—loneliness. This conversation explores the intersection of faith and psychology, revealing how the mental health crisis among young people, particularly young men, is fundamentally a crisis of meaning and connection. We discover that our brains are wired for safety rather than happiness, making us hypersensitive to negative feedback and criticism. This biological reality explains why we often find ourselves trapped in dysfunctional patterns, why social media algorithms prey on our anxieties, and why we struggle to simply 'rejoice' when Scripture commands it. But here's the transformative insight: the New Testament isn't primarily about right thinking or right behavior—it's deeply concerned with our emotional lives. The path forward involves recognizing that changing our emotional life isn't merely an act of willpower—it requires intentional spiritual practices that reshape our hearts, reconnect us with transcendent reality, and ground us in the personal relationship God offers through Christ.

Check out Richard Beck's newest book "The Shape of Joy"

Hear what Dr. Beck has to say about joy during Central's Faith Forum