Miserable

Dear Miserable:
I really appreciate your honesty! It’s tough to admit we’re not where we should be and that we’ve blown it. I love the fact that you want to move away from a hypocritical lifestyle and get back to the basics of following Christ and becoming all He desires.

So let’s start with where you are right now. Ask God to forgive you. Tell Him you’re truly sorry for the wrong you’ve done and let Him know how desperate you are to establish intimacy with Him.

Then start reading your Bible consistently. Pray throughout the day—tell God everything. Get involved in a youth group or Bible study. And the hard part? You may need to walk away from your current friendships. If they’re pulling you down (and it sounds as though they are), you need to back off.

You’ll also need to say no to questionable parties, movies, habits—anything that breaks God’s heart. This will be tough, but His Holy Spirit within you will empower you with the strength you need to make these hard decisions. You may be sitting at home on some Friday nights. You may feel lonely. I want you to know that changing your lifestyle won’t be easy, but God will be right by your side.

Let your parents know about the decisions you’re making. Ask them to help you remain strong and to hold you gently accountable. Ask them to pray for you and with you. You’ll need spiritual support!

Dear Susie:
One of my friends is walking down a bad path. She’s smoking and says she doesn’t believe in God. Please help me help her.

Concerned

Dear Concerned:
I admire your desire to help your friend, and it’s sad that she’s taking up destructive habits. Your lifestyle can shout volumes to your friend. Ask God to exemplify the fruit of His Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) through your life. Pray that your friend will want what she sees in you.

Share with her the difference Christ has made in your own life. No one can negate a personal testimony. Also, ask her if she’d be willing to read the student edition of The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel with you and discuss it. This could make a major difference in how she views Christianity.

Dear Susie:
I have a major trust issue with guys. Almost every guy I’ve dated has lied and/or cheated on me. It makes me feel worthless! I want to trust guys again, and I love dating. It’s just the heartbreak and feeling worthless that kills me inside. Please help me.

Hurting

Dear Hurting:
I’m sorry you’ve been hurt. And I can understand why it would be tough to continue trusting guys when you’ve been repeatedly disappointed. I think part of this, however, can be avoided in being more selective in whom you choose to date. Don’t accept every invitation to go out. Be choosey.

Make sure you know a lot about the guy before you go out with him. Here are some important things to zero in on before you agree to even one date:

Is he a Christian? What kind of reputation does he have? Who are his friends? How does he treat people? Is he a young man of integrity? Does he complete things, or does he drop unfinished projects?

The answers to these questions will help determine his character, and you’ll be better equipped to decide if you want to spend an evening (or more) with him.