“I am a hard worker but have never been able to get ahead in life. I have a good friend who is successful at everything she touches. She is a really good person, she never flaunts her success, and she is very generous to me. After I am with her a while I am undone and unsatisfied with my life. I am happy for her, sad for me, but I find myself talking against her. Is this jealousy getting the best of me?”
“How can I get started reading the Bible? I actually made a New Year’s resolution to read the Bible every day (like my grandmother did), but I got bogged down and finally gave up. Maybe you could give me some pointers.
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“This past year wasn’t very good for me, and I can’t blame anyone but myself. I know I need God, but how much do I have to clean up my life before He’ll have anything to do with me? He must be very angry at me.”
“Church members are to carry the light of Christ. Does this assure me of eternal life in Heaven where Jesus is the light of glory?”
“My mother didn’t have a very happy life, and now that she’s gone I wonder what kind of a life she’s having in Heaven. Is she happy and free from worries, or is she still kind of depressed and anxious? I worry about this.
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“I know the Bible says we shouldn’t worry, but isn’t that a bit unrealistic? I could name a dozen things I worry about every day, and they aren’t going to go away just because I hope they will, or because I pray they will.
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“Is it a sin for me to take medicine for depression? I worry about this, because someone in my church said that if we’re right with God we won’t be depressed. The medicine really helps me, but I need to know if I’m doing something wrong.”
“My husband says I’m a worry wart, but I can’t help worrying about all the things that might go wrong. The world is a pretty scary place, and a lot can happen. Am I wrong to be concerned?
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“I know God wants us to love everyone, even people that aren’t very lovable. But I just can’t bring myself to love some of the people I have to deal with at work, no matter how hard I try. In fact, I’ve just stopped trying. Am I wrong?”
“Do you think Christ will come again and the world will end this year? I get very discouraged when I see the way the world is going—the economic situation, terrorism, crime, warfare, etc.—and I wonder how much longer God is going to let this continue.
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“Every year I come up with a long list of New Year’s resolutions, but then I end up not keeping even one. I’m sincere when I make them, but then they somehow fall by the wayside as time passes. What’s my problem? God must be very disappointed in me.
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“Did people in the Bible celebrate the start of the new year, like we do today? Or is it only a secular holiday with no particular religious significance?
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