My Answer: Take survival as sign from God
Q: I escaped with only minor injuries from a bad car wreck a few months ago. Did God have something to do with this, like one of my friends says, or was I just lucky? I’ve never thought about questions like this before.
— S.B.
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A: Your friend is right; you weren’t “just lucky,” but God was watching over you and taking care of you. The Bible says, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life” (Psalm 138:7).
The real question, however, is this: Why did God spare your life? Was it simply so you could go on living the same way you always have? I’m afraid many people in your situation end up doing exactly that, but I pray this won’t be true of you. God spared you for a purpose, and the most important thing you can do is to seek that purpose and dedicate your life to it.
In other words, what is God trying to teach you through this experience? What does He want to do in your life? First, He wants you to realize that He loves you and has a plan for your life. You aren’t here by chance, nor are you here just to live for yourself without any thought of God. God made you, and life’s greatest joy comes from knowing Him and living for Him every day.
Then God wants you to come to know Him personally — and you can, by asking Jesus Christ to come into your life. Only one thing separates us from God, and that is our sin. But by His death on the cross Christ destroyed that barrier sin had erected. Don’t ignore God any longer, but by faith commit your life to Christ today. Then ask Him to help you live for Him every day.
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Q: By the time you get this I’ll be in college, and I’m nervous about school. It’ll be my first time away from home, and I know I’ll face lots of temptations. I’m not sure I’m strong enough to resist them. I guess I’ve lived kind of a sheltered life. What if I can’t handle the pressures at school? Pray for me.
— K.W.
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A: Thank you for your honesty — and I hope your letter will encourage many to pray for those who are leaving home for the first time, whether for college, the military, a new job, or some other responsibility. You’re right that once we’re away from family and friends, we’re often more vulnerable to temptation.
The most important thing I can urge you to do is to have a friend with you at all times — and that friend is Jesus. If you try to battle the pressures alone, you might, indeed, fail. But God loves you and wants to help you — not just to resist temptation, but also to become the person He created you to be. The most important decision you’ll ever make is to admit that you need God’s help, and then to invite Jesus Christ to come in and take control of your life. We are never alone when we know Him.
Then seek out other Christians on campus. Various Christian ministries are probably active there; look for announcements on campus bulletin boards or ask your pastor. You need the fellowship of other believers — and they need you. The Bible says, “Encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
In addition, no matter how busy you get, take time to be with God every day by reading the Bible and praying. Let the Psalmist’s prayer become yours: “Strengthen me according to your word” (Psalm 119:28).
Send your queries to “My Answer,” c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit https://www.billygraham.org.