Why does God bring hard times into our lives?
“Why does God bring hard times into our lives? Does He do it to see if our faith is strong, or if we'll get fed up and abandon it? Sometimes I think this must be the reason.”
Answers
My uncle says I ought to quit dabbling with things like my Ouija board and having my fortune told and things like that.
“My uncle says I ought to quit dabbling with things like my Ouija board and having my fortune told and things like that. I admit the occult has always fascinated me, and I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
Do you think it's possible to be perfect, if we just try hard enough?
“Do you think it's possible to be perfect, if we just try hard enough? I've tried and tried to become a better person, and I know I've made some progress, but I get discouraged because I can't seem to make it to a higher level. Am I doing something wrong?”
Where do our doubts come from? Does the devil give them to us, or do they come from some other source?
“Where do our doubts come from? Does the devil give them to us, or do they come from some other source?”
I'm 9 years old, and I'd like to ask you a question: What does God look like? Has anyone ever seen God?
“I'm 9 years old, and I'd like to ask you a question: What does God look like? Has anyone ever seen God?”
How can I know if something is really wrong, or if it's just something people think is wrong but it actually isn't as far as God is concerned?
“How can I know if something is really wrong, or if it's just something people think is wrong but it actually isn't as far as God is concerned? Some people have a long list of things they think are wrong, but how do they know?”
Right now, I'm in the military deployed in Afghanistan, and I've really grown closer to God during my time here. Do you think God wants me to be a pastor or something like that when I get out?
“Right now, I'm in the military deployed in Afghanistan, and I've really grown closer to God during my time here. Do you think God wants me to be a pastor or something like that when I get out? How can I know?”
I want to believe in God, but I can't. There's so much evil in the world that I just can't believe God exists, or if He does, that He cares about us. How can I get over this? I really do want to believe.
“I want to believe in God, but I can't. There's so much evil in the world that I just can't believe God exists, or if He does, that He cares about us. How can I get over this? I really do want to believe.”
We're in shock because we usually have a large family gathering every Christmas, but this year one of my cousins isn't coming because she's gotten involved in a religious group that says she shouldn't have anything to do with her family.
“We're in shock because we usually have a large family gathering every Christmas, but this year one of my cousins isn't coming because she's gotten involved in a religious group that says she shouldn't have anything to do with her family. Is this a cult or something?”
A pastor in our community was indicted for mishandling his church's money, and now the courts have decided the charges were true.
“A pastor in our community was indicted for mishandling his church's money, and now the courts have decided the charges were true. What's wrong with people like this? Don't they know they aren't supposed to do anything illegal, and eventually they'll be found out?”
What is your definition of the soul? And how do we know we even have one?
“What is your definition of the soul? And how do we know we even have one? In my view, we aren't any different from other animals, except for having some abilities they don't have.”
I have some friends who keep telling me I need to find out how to live from the Bible. But I've gotten along just fine so far by using ordinary common sense to make my decisions, so why should I bother with the Bible?
“Let me ask you a question: You say you've been able to make it through life by relying on your common sense “so far” — but how do you know it won't let you down in the future? Or what will you do if you face something you can't handle?”