“Do people who’ve died and gone on to heaven know what’s going on down here on earth? I’d like to think my parents know what’s happening with their grandchildren, but maybe that’s just wishful thinking.”
“When we found out that our son was going to be born with some significant birth defects, we prayed and prayed for God to take them away. But He didn’t, and now I’m not even sure I have any faith left. I don’t want to be this way, but can you understand my feelings?”
“I've felt guilty since my husband's death, because I'm sure he had some definite ideas about his funeral, but I never pushed him to find out what they were, and so I didn't carry them out. I'm even reluctant to meet him in heaven because I'm afraid he'll be angry at me. Is my fear foolish?”
“My uncle had a lot of mental problems most of his life, and they finally overwhelmed him and he killed himself. It’s been very hard on his family, but one of the hardest things is that someone at the visitation told them that suicide is the unforgivable sin. Is it?”
“My adoptive parents are great, and I couldn't have asked for a more loving and generous family. But I've always felt that their families looked down on me because I'm not a blood relative, and that's very hurtful. Can I do anything to get them to accept me?”
“My family came to the United States because our country persecuted Christians. We worked hard and became citizens, but my English is not good and people in the church we attend not very friendly, and it hurts me. Maybe you could say something so churches be friendlier.”
“I try to be unselfish and treat people the same way I'd like them to treat me. What else does God want me to do? I had a cancer scare several years ago, and it's made me think about heaven and whether or not I'll go there when I die.”
“My sister supposedly gave her life to Jesus when she was 8, but you'd never know it now. Will she go to heaven anyway, in spite of the way she's turned her back on everything Christian?”
“What do you think a “lukewarm” Christian is? I heard part of a sermon about this the other day on our local Christian radio station, and I think I must be one. But I don't know what I ought to do about it.”
“My friend believes that if she just has enough faith, God will make her rich and she won't have any more financial problems. I asked where she found this in the Bible and she couldn't tell me, but she still believes it because someone on television said so. What can I tell her?”
“I'll probably be in college when you get this, and to be honest I'm scared to death. I'm not worried about the classwork because I've always been a fairly good student. But I'm shy and have a hard time making friends, which worries me. How can I get over this?”
“I'm on disability and unable to work, so what use am I to God? I know preachers like to talk about God having a plan for our lives and all that, but maybe He doesn't have a plan for people like me.”