Tales and traumas of a 'Teenage Drama Queen'

Hope this helps...

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen: A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: I don't believe that God exists." Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not
exist." How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside." Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me." Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."


I'm adding this to this email cause i think it applies to what we were talking about...

When you experience pain and suffering, don't doubt God - that is the time when you need him most. No matter what you feel, he will NEVER leabe you or let you down. NEVER. You may like to talk to your friends about your problems, and that's all good, but when you're in despair, the person you really need to talk to is God - he is the only one who can truly help.

2 Corinthians 1: 3-7
"All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God's comfort."
- You may feel as if God has it in for you or simply doesn't care about YOUR suffering compared to everyone elses. I know it may be hard to contemplate, but it is through suffering that we can grow stronger and that we appreciate when life is good. Suffering may sometimes tear people apart, but often it will bring people together, and it is at those times that you know who your real friends are, who truly cares for you and who you can look to for comfort when times are trying.

Romans 8: 9-11
"You are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God in you (And remember those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.) Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by the same Spirit living within you."
- Don't be scared of death. As long as you turn to Christ, you can live without sin and be protected by his Spirit. The sinful nature of humans means that your human life has to come to an end, but your soul will live on, stronger than it ever was here on earth. If you repent for your sins and accept God into your heart, you have nothing to fear and when you die, you will go to a place where no evil hands can touch you.

Jeremiah 29: 11-15
"For I know the plans i have for you" says the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a good future." "When you pray to me, I will listen. If you search for me with all your heart, you will find me. I will let you find me" declared the Lord.
- This is my favorite verse in the Bible. It's a solid promise from God that he has a plan for your life, and however fulfilling you think your plans are, the plans God has for you will give you such a larger sense of fulfillment. It's also a promise of always having someone to turn to. Whenevr you have ANYTHING on your mind, just pray. Don't be scared, God doesn't want to hear respectful words that you have been instructed to say - he wants to hear what you really feel inside your heart, no matter how rude or brutal that is. He wants the real you, cause he knows what you're thinking anyway. I know it's a scary thought but you can't hide anything from God. Lastly, when you recognize God as your Saviour and really turn to him, hunger for him, search for him with all your heart, he will be waiting there with outsretched arms, and once he has you in his grip, he will NEVER let you go.

Job 5: 17-21
"Consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the chastening of the Almighty when you sin. For though he wounds, he also bandages. He strikes, but his hands also heal. He will rescue you again and again so that no evil can touch you. He will save you from death in time of famine, from the power of the sword in time of war. You will be safe from slander and will have no fear of destruiction when it comes."
- Humans can be very selfish at times. They want free will to do what they want, but also want to be saved from destruction, that was brought on by free will itself! If you have faith in God, he can see your suffering, and it breaks his heart, but he will not let you come to any real harm while your in his protection. You may think that suffering on this earth is immense. Have you ever thought that on a scale of one to ten, our suffering could have been ten and it's only really a tenth?

I know that you (ahem charlie!!!) will probably think of something to contradict what i've said but you know in your heart what you believe and i don't ever want to change that, i'm just trying to explain to you what I believe and if you choose to do the same, it's your call.

There may be no concrete evidence - You can't see God so he must nbot be real. You can't see wind, but do you believ in wind? Yes, because you can see the effect it has on all that comes in contact with it. Well it's the same story with God. You just have to open your eyes to see the miracles he has worked in the lives of others, people who have seeked him for help and have recieved his mercy. He can do exactly the same for you, all you have to do is BELIEVE!!!

I know i get hysterical when i debate but i still love you all and definitely don't judge you because of what you believe. I'm in no position to tell you that you're wrong. See you at school =]
xxx Dani xxx

p.s. if you can think of anyone who i haven't sent this to but you think should see it then just forward it =]]