response to doubt

So many of you have responded to my last post. Sorry to be such a downer, it just REALLY got to me and I needed to hear other throughts. I am so lucky to have all of you and your thoughts and prayers. I am working through these questions and you have all helped me to move forward in my faith. That is for sure a BLESSING provided by God. I have decided to post a copy of my sister's response. Her's is just one of many that have begun to fill my heart back up. I would post Mandy's too, but there are things in the message that I am just not prepared to share yet.

I love you all and thank you for being my (for lack of a better term) faith support. I would NEVER be this far without all of you. You know who you are! I love you all....

"Biblically speaking, sin entered the world when Adam and Eve chose to eat from the forbidden fruit. It was then that the angel Gabriel (who we know as satan) fell from heaven into hell. Thus creating the battle between good and evil. The truth is that we live in a broken world. There is sin, ugliness, hatred, disgusting thiings that happen. Not because God lets them happen...but because this world is BROKEN. People are BROKEN. If you believe there is a heaven and there is good, then there has to be a counter to that, unfortunately. There is hell, there is evil, and unfortunately we are all touched by some of those things because we are in this world, this broken, sad world. But the bible tells us that we are not OF this world. We are created in his image to be his light in this broken world. When you weep, He weeps with you, when you are joyful, He laughs with you. HE LOVES YOU. Think of it as you would a child and parent. Parents bring children into this world because before that child is born, they love them, they want an extension of themselves, someone that will live on and experience wonderful things. But with life comes some heartache. Things happen to children that parents can't stop, but time and again that child will return to their parent because that is where they feel safe, and known, and loved unconditionally. Parents will spend their lives trying to protect their children from hurt, but despite that, life happens. We are touched by the hurts of this world, and we are never the same. But life can still be beautiful. It can still be meaningful. God wants nothing but the best for you. That doesn't mean that we are completely protected from the evil in the world. I wish it did. But while we are in the world it is a reality. God did not create you to be in pain. He does not like these hurts any more than you do. But they are a reality. He will be there when you question, He will be there when you turn to him, and he will be there if you choose to turn away from him. You are his daughter. If you don't believe anything else right now...believe that He loves you more than you know. Even if you can't love Him back right now...hold on to that."