Even when it feels as if we are being crushed by earthly troubles, we can remain joyful. If we keep our focus on God, our spirit cannot be trampled.

Even when it feels as if we are being crushed by earthly troubles, we can remain joyful. If we keep our focus on God, our spirit cannot be trampled.

Churches provide a place of gathering for people who share common beliefs, support and encouragement for each other in faith, a place to find insight into and teaching about God's Word, and they provide a time and place where people can leave the world behind and focus only on their spiritual relationship with God.

But I also assert that most of us don't look for miracles, don't recognize them for what they really are, and don't really believe them to be of divine origin even if their miraculous nature is noticed.

The heaven I witnessed was so pure, love-filled, and magnificent that I did not want to return to earth.

I began to see my life and each breath I am given as a living prayer to God and a way to pray for others for our world.

By freely choosing to believe God's promises, a person's faith may be more strongly embraced and, therefore, less likely to falter in times of struggle, sadness, or other such difficulties.