“I work with a woman who just never seems to be happy. I’ve tried to be a friend to her, and she doesn’t seem to have any more problems than the rest of us, but she’s never cheerful or optimistic. Are some people just born unhappy?”
“Every day, I really try to please God by doing everything I think He’d want me to do, but how do I know if I’ve succeeded? I hope I’ll be good enough to get into heaven.”
“I used to believe in God, but I stopped after my mother died of cancer last year. She was barely 50, and her death just didn’t make any sense. If God really exists, He wouldn’t have let this happen.”
“It seems like we used to hear a lot about cults a decade or so ago, but I hardly hear anything about them today. Why is that? Have most of them faded away?”
“I’d like you to explain something to me. The kindest, most understanding person in my exercise class says she doesn’t believe in God, while the one with the nastiest personality claims to be a devout Christian. How can this be?”
“My boss is asking me to do something on a government contract that isn’t legal. I need my job, and as a Christian I’ve always been taught to be loyal, but this makes me uncomfortable. What should I do? ”
“Someone in our family is always having a crisis, and all of their problems end up in my lap. I get so tired trying to deal with them. They mostly ignore my advice anyway. Sometimes I just wish I could leave. Why is our family so messed up?”
“I don’t think God really cares what happens to us. The universe is so huge and we’re so small, so why should He worry about us? He’s too big to be interested in what happens to us, and we ought to be honest enough to admit we’re on our own.”
“I’m headed for college shortly, and I can’t help but worry about the pressures I’ll face as a Christian. It’s a large state university, and from what my friends tell me it’s not a very easy place to be a Christian. Am I making a mistake going there? ”
“I’m really ashamed of the way I’ve been living. I joined the Army right after graduating from high school, and I’ve gotten involved in a lot of things I never thought I’d do. The worst part is, I know I’ve left God behind. Is there any way to get back on track, or has God given up on me? ”
“I thought I’d be happy once my divorce went through, but I just can’t get over my anger and bitterness over the way my ex-husband treated me as our marriage fell apart. I know you’ll tell me to forgive him, but I just can’t. Will I ever get over this?”
“For years some friends and I have gotten together for lunch every month or so, and I’ve always enjoyed it. But recently it seems like all we do is gossip, and not always in flattering ways. I’ve grown uncomfortable with this, but what can I do?”