Answers

Read thoughtful responses to a wide assortment of questions from Billy Graham’s My Answer column and other resources.

My husband and I broke up our first marriages in order to get married, and although that was years ago I still feel guilty.

I know God is supposed to be able to do anything if we'll let Him, but can He turn something bad into something good? My husband and I broke up our first marriages in order to get married, and although that was years ago I still feel guilty over the heartache we caused our families.

What good does it do for me to pray for someone I hardly know?

What good does it do for me to pray for someone I hardly know? Our church (which is fairly large) has an active prayer chain, but often I don't even know the people they are asking me to pray for.

My friend laughs at hell and says he looks forward to it because all his friends will be there. Is he spiritually hopeless?

I have a friend who has no use for God. When I asked him if he ever worried about going to hell, he just laughed and said he looks forward to it because all his friends will be there and they'll have one big party. Is he spiritually hopeless?

If I commit a sin just before I die, and I don't have time to confess it to God or get His forgiveness, does that mean I won't go to heaven?

If I commit a sin just before I die, and I don't have time to confess it to God or get His forgiveness, does that mean I won't go to heaven?

I recently gave my life to Jesus. But does this mean I ought to stop living with my non-Christian boyfriend?

I've been on a spiritual search most of my life, and I've tried just about everything. A couple of weeks ago, however, I gave my life to Jesus, and I really believe my search is over. But does this mean I ought to stop living with my boyfriend? We've been together for over a year but he's made it clear that he isn't interested in Jesus.

I know you'll say we ought to keep Christ in Christmas, but how can we?

I know Christmas is still weeks away but already I'm dreading it. It's such a busy time for our family, and we always end up spending more than we should. I know you'll probably say we ought to keep Christ in Christmas, but how can we?

I've ruined my life, and now I'm in prison. If you could give me one piece of advice, what would it be?

I've ruined my life because of some stupid things I did, and now I'm in prison. I feel so hopeless. Even my family doesn't want anything to do with me when I get out in a few months. If you could give me just one piece of advice, what would it be?

What's the difference between feeling guilty over your sins and feeling regret for them? Or is there any?

What's the difference between feeling guilty over your sins and feeling regret for them? Or is there any? Several of us were discussing this in our Bible class the other day, but we didn't come to any conclusion.

I want to have a strong faith, and sometimes I feel I do, but no matter how much I pray my feelings don't last.

I pray often every day and try to stay focused on God, but sometimes I wonder if I'm just kidding myself. I want to have a strong faith, and sometimes I feel I do, but no matter how much I pray my feelings don't last. What am I doing wrong?

My ex-husband has custody of our children and tells them the divorce was all my fault. They think he can do no wrong. Do you think I should tell them the truth?

I guess I wasn't very wise in the way I went about our divorce, and now my ex-husband has custody of our children and I almost never get to see them. This breaks my heart, but he tells them I'm just an angry person and it was all my fault (which it wasn't), and they think he can do no wrong. Do you think I should tell them the truth?

What does the Bible mean when it says that we shouldn't think about the future? (I seem to remember the phrase "Take no thought for tomorrow.")

What does the Bible mean when it says that we shouldn't think about the future? (I seem to remember the phrase "Take no thought for tomorrow" or something like that from my Sunday school days.) Does this mean we shouldn't plan ahead or save money for our retirement, or things like that?

My husband had been having an affair with someone he met at work. He claims it's over, but I don't think I can forgive him. Is our marriage finished?

I know you must get lots of letters like this, but my husband admitted to me the other day that he had been having an affair with someone he met at work. He claims it's all over, but I don't think I can ever forgive him. Is our marriage finished?