“My parents got divorced several months ago, and I feel confused. I love them both, but they don’t love each other and that makes it very hard for me, especially when they trash each other and try to get me on their side. How can I deal with this? I’m only 14.”
“Where did Satan come from? Has he always existed, like God has? And why didn’t God do away with him once it became clear that he was always going to cause trouble? After all, God is stronger than the devil, isn’t He? ”
“We visited Europe this summer, and we were shocked at how few people actually attend church there. It was inspiring to visit some of the great cathedrals, but it depressed us to see them almost empty on Sunday. Could the same thing happen over here?”
“You often say that the way we live is just as important as the words we speak, when we’re trying to convince someone to follow Jesus. But I’m such a weak Christian that I can’t imagine anyone wanting to be like me. How can God possibly use me?”
“Recently an atheist friend of mine was in a serious car accident, but escaped with only minor injuries. I’d hoped it would make him stop and think about God, but instead he only laughs and congratulates himself on his good luck. Why won’t he admit that it was God who spared his life?”
“Recently a couple joined our church, and it’s already obvious that they’re going to be troublemakers. I even found out from a friend that they’ve been in other churches in our city, and have a reputation for stirring up trouble wherever they go. Why would anyone want to be like this? ”
“I don’t believe it’s possible to forgive someone who has deeply hurt you. I trusted someone very much, and later she betrayed me. When I confronted her about it she just laughed. I know I should forgive her, but I just can’t.”
“One of my best friends (only 28) was killed in an accident recently, and I’m having a hard time dealing with it. It’s not just that I miss him, but I’ve never thought much about death before, and it’s got me scared. How can I get over my fears?”
“Sometimes something good will happen to me, or I’ll have a vivid dream about something, and later I’ll wonder if maybe God was trying to speak to me. But how can I be sure? Maybe it’s just my imagination. ”
“I know we’re supposed to be different once we commit our lives to Jesus, but what does this mean exactly? I’ve never been a bad person, so what would change if I became a Christian? I think I’d probably be about the same.”
“Every time I try to witness to someone and tell them about Jesus, it ends up in an argument. They accuse me of being too judgmental, or they say you can’t believe the Bible, or things like that, and when I try to answer them it turns into an argument. What am I doing wrong?”
“I’ve prayed and prayed for God to do something for me, but to be honest I’m not sure it’s the kind of thing I ought to be asking for. Maybe I’m just being selfish. How can I know? Should I just stop praying for it?”