Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 3/23/2009

Question
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME FOR ME. I AM A CHRISTIAN WITH PROBLEMS DEALING WITH WORRY AND GUILT. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS CRAZY SINCE I SHOULD HAVE NEITHER ONE. MY FAMILY HAD A CLOSE FRIEND TO DIE TRAGICALLY IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. HE WAS HAVING A BATTLE WITH DEPRESSION. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU KNOW ABOUT AMBIEN, BUT HE WANTED TO TAKE ONE TO HELP HIM REST. I EXPLAINED TO THE FAMILY THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE A GOOD IDEA, SO I RECOMMENDED TYLENOL PM. IM HAVING A HARD TIME WITH IT. EVERYONE TELLS ME THAT IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ALL THIS, AND I KNOW THIS WAS GODS PLAN. I KNOW NOTHING IS OUT OF GODS CONTROL AND HE KNOW THE PLANS FOR OUR LIFE. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME TURN THIS LOOSE?

Answer
Dear Jean,
   I don't know much about Ambien, but wouldn't the one who died have been even more affected by Ambien than by Tylenol PM?  Plus, I assume Ambien has more long-range risks than Tylenol PM as well.  
   However, the situation is unpleasant because you were so close to the event, no matter what caused the death.  God can use this unpleasant feeling for good by helping you warn others about sin.  Everything unpleasant can be attributed to sin, but Christians have a perfect future in eternity, with nothing unpleasant.  At great cost, God has provided the cure for sin, but sin is still in this short physical life to show the contrast between God's way and our own way.  Humans have a choice to accept God's cure through Jesus Christ our Lord.
   We can only deal with guilt or any other problem by filling our mind and actions with God, instead of trying to push out the problem (thinking about ourselves and our feelings). Phil. 4:8   Read God's Word every day and share what you read with others.  In time, God will change your feelings.  Please cling to God patiently.