My question is regarding crosses we have to bear. I recently had a conversation with a friend regarding her struggle with anxiety. She has prayed for god to remove the cause of her anxiety and constantly seeks prayer for this. When she still struggles with the anxiety she feels that it is a cross she has to bear and believes that we all have a cross to bear. I don’t agree with her, I don’t believe that God gives us crosses to bear, he came to free us from fear and anxiety and to make our burdens light. She said God gave Paul a thorn in the flesh and didn’t take it away. Could you shed some light on this matter and is it scriptural?

I just read your reply to the question Does God Create Every Person? I agree that God does not create each of our bodies but “the process of procreation was designed and instituted by God.” I believe, however, that our spirits which we receive while in the womb were created by God. What is your thinking on this?

A young business man was a member of our Church. He had accepted Jesus and was baptized at age 16. He remained in constant contact with God and was driven by a desire to do what God wanted. One evening he gave in to the temptation that abounds in the business world and went drinking with business associates. On his way home he wrecked his car and was killed. There is concern in the local congregation that he is no longer saved, because he was sinning when he died and did not have the opportunity to ask for forgiveness. Your thoughts?

At the end of Genesis 1, God said everything was “very good”. That statement right there precludes any possibility of evil existing during the creation week.

If everything was made in the presence of God where darkness cannot exist then how could Satan be tempted to be full of pride? in other words, how is it known that the concept of evil/darkness/sin could be chosen over God’s way? or, what would cause Satan to seek out something that he’s not aware of?

Re: Psalm 139: 13-14. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful.” If I take this verse literally, it would seem that God is directly involved in the creation of everyone. He forms each of us in the womb. Yet some babies are born deformed or very sick, so how can that be? I’ve read your comments that only Adam and Eve were created directly by God and in His image and that God delegated procreation to us and so all of us are now born in the image of Adam. This would suggest that God isn’t directly involved in the conception of each person. How do I understand this verse?

In several of your articles and answers to questions, you’ve suggested that by investing our resources in Kingdom work, we’ll be creating greater benefit for ourselves both in this life and the next one. What exactly do you mean by that?

I’m a bit confused about Luke 11: 24-26. Here Jesus speaks about an impure spirit that is driven out of a person and it goes away and wanders, and then comes back with 7 other impure spirits and worsen the condition of the person. What is Jesus teaching here? My other question is can a Born Again believer be possessed by demons?

On the issue of forgiving each other, how am I supposed to forgive someone if he does not apologize?

Can you please explain in “practical” ways how to lay down our will to embrace His will for our life? How do you put off your old self & put on the new self, which is created in true righteousness and holiness? I can say the words over and over and offer my body as a living sacrifice, but when nothing changes or I don’t see evidence of change, am I supposed to just trust He is working His good pleasure in me, or are there steps I am missing?

In some of your posts it almost sounds like you’re saying we don’t have to experience pain and suffering in this life. That would be so great and I’d love to believe that all suffering and pain can be removed through enough faith and prayer. But what did Jesus mean when He said to take up your cross and follow Me (Luke 9:23)?