Answers

When we truly put our faith in Christ, our lives are changed

“I’d probably decide to follow Jesus if I ever met someone who really took it seriously. All the so-called Christians I’ve ever met didn’t seem to be any different from anyone else. Why should I believe in Jesus if it won’t make any difference to me? ”

Nurture your newfound faith

“No one in my family has any use for God. They even make fun of people who go to church or say they believe in God. But I have a yearning inside me to know God, although I know they’ll just laugh at me. I don’t know why I’m writing, but maybe you can suggest something. I am 16.”

God has a purpose for every stage of our lives

“I’d always looked forward to retirement, and had done a lot of financial planning to be sure we’d be comfortable. But I’ve been retired two years now, and I’m bored to death. Does the Bible say anything about retirement?”

God is both kind and judgmental—as well as forgiving!

“My sister and I are having a debate about what God is like. Is He basically kind and loving (which is what I think), or is He strict and judgmental (which is what she thinks)? It probably doesn’t matter, but I’d still like to know. Can you help? ”

Embrace Christ's promise of eternal life

“I don’t believe anything happens after we die. When we die, that’s the end, and hopefully we’ve had a good time along the way. People who think we’re going to go on living in some perfect world are just kidding themselves, in my opinion.”

Should I change careers?

“I work in the emergency room of our local hospital, and to be honest, I’m about burned out. I get very discouraged because most of the people who come here are here because of their own bad decisions—too much drinking, drugs, fighting, you name it. We patch them up, but two weeks later they’re back. Why bother? Should I change careers?”

Jesus can use our smallest gifts to do great things

“How much money does God expect us to give to our church and to other groups that are doing good things? We aren’t wealthy by any measure, and frankly I can’t imagine that the little amount we give actually does much good.”

'Companionable silence' can be a blessing

“When we got married 40 years ago, it seems like my husband and I talked all the time about everything under the sun. But now we sometimes go for hours without saying much of anything. We still love each other very much, but has something gone wrong?”

Seek the forgiveness of those you've hurt

“If you ask God to forgive you for something you did to someone, does that mean you also need to ask them for forgiveness? I’m a Christian now, but I’m not sure I can do it. I don’t see what difference it would make anyway, except maybe reopen old wounds.”