Dr. Roger Barrier

Recently, I read a verse in Daniel that I'd never noticed before that got me quite excited. So many prophecies seem to be fitting together in ways that people have not seen for 2000 years.

Dear Roger and Brie,
After devastating occurrences taking place in my life one after the other, I have given up on God. As somebody who from an early age has been taught to trust, confide, and love God, I have begun to feel that me loving and believing in Him has been a waste of time! I feel like He is the biggest disappointment of my entire life. And I feel incredibly guilty for saying that.
I would like to forgive God and restore my faith, because without Him, I can’t see a way forward. I would love it if you could explain why bad things happen to good people. - J 

Dear “J,”

This is Brie. My dad, Roger, helped me work through the “why” of suffering and tragedy many years ago. I want you to know we’ve both felt the pain and anger you’re experiencing—I think it’s impossible to go through life in this fallen, sinful world without times of doubt and despair. I’d like to walk you through some of Dad’s principles that really helped me, as well as some of the biblical truth I’ve learned over 30+ years of walking with Jesus:

Roger: I understand tragedy. I had open heart surgery as a child to fix a nonexistent hole in my heart after the doctors made a horrible diagnostic mistake. My first daughter died in my arms. I had numerous operations to remove my colon, fix my knees, extract broken disc material from my spine, and several more operations to try to fix a broken electrical system in my heart. When they failed, a pacemaker was implanted in my heart to make my heart beat. Without it, my heart will cease beating immediately. I have nicknamed my pacemaker “repeat”! My wife has had a nervous breakdown. I have stood on the ledge of a three-story building in so much emotional pain that it took every mental ounce of strength to climb back down and not jump. One of my daughters struggles with bipolar chemistry issues. One of them has several serious, life-threatening chronic illnesses. One of them was sexually assaulted. 

I know what it is like to be angry and disappointed in God.

I didn’t share this with you for sympathy—I have had plenty of that over the years. I share to let you know that it is ok to be angry and frustrated with God. It is okay to be totally disappointed in Jesus. It is normal to wonder if following Jesus was just a waste of time. I don’t blame you a bit. Your anger and disappointment are natural emotions that you can’t stop from arising deep within in response to pain and suffering. 

Brie: Wow, do I ever understand. I’ve also dealt with incredible, incomprehensible tragedy. But years ago, I heard comedian Mark Lowry speak a truth that flipped the script on how I understand my relationship with God in the midst of suffering. He said, “If you’re angry with God, you might as well tell Him. He knows anyway.” 

J, please don’t feel guilty for struggling with anger toward God. He knows. He’s not surprised. And He wants to help you walk through the pain to the other side with Him: “Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God” (Isaiah 50:11). 

Roger: So, how do we deal with the deep emotions that come with anger, doubt, and frustration? How do we understand “why” God allows bad things to happen?

I shared my own pain to let you know that you don’t have to give up on God. You can give up if you want to. I can’t stop that. But, since you asked for some guidance, let me share with you some thoughts that may help.

First things first. I am sorry for your loss. The God you believed in, the One Who stood beside you, Who you trusted, and in Who you confided is no longer part of your life. The magnitude of that loss is incalculable. The pain there, I know, is deep. I am sorry.

You said that you would like to reconnect with Him. You would like to know if He even exists, and if He does, if you could ever trust Him again.

I don’t know how well I can answer your questions, but what I can do is share with you the theological framework that I used to reconnect with God the night one of my daughters was lying in a hospital bed with 90% of her lungs filled with fluid. The attending physician said to me quietly, “Tonight, your daughter may become a statistic.” 

I turned on God and snarled in anger, “If she dies, You and I are finished.” I wasn’t just speaking about that night. It was from a lifetime of suffering that I spoke those words. I was so angry that God would let her suffer like this—gasping for every breath—feeling that each would be her last.

Brie: Oh, how I remember that night! The doctor didn’t say those words in front of me, but I could hear him in the hallway. At first, I was absolutely terrified … then angry with God… and then just simply sad. All within the course of a few minutes! The last thing I recall before falling asleep is saying Jesus’ name over and over. And in Him, I found peace. 

Roger: Here is how I sorted out my relationship with God.

Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Tiago Bandeira 

Take a step back and try to see your church from an overall perspective. Would you consider your church to be functional or dysfunctional? Pray and ask God for His leading. Then act!

Dear Roger,

There is so much talk and discussion these days about the antichrist, the Second Coming, the mark of the beast, and so many other end times subjects. I’ve never read or heard anyone talk about what’s going on in Heaven before the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Can you help me here?

Sincerely, Susie

Dear Susie,

When thoughts about Heaven flood your mind, what do you think of?

Most of us imagine that Heaven is someplace even more comfortable than Earth. We think that if we have $1000 here, we’ll have $10 million there. If our pillow is soft here, it will be really fluffy up there. If the music is soul-stirring here, it will be unimaginably beautiful there.

We are so earth-bound that without realizing it, we think that everything in Heaven must somehow be compared to the way we have it now—except that heaven will just be a whole lot better.

When Julie and I were in Hawaii, we’d say, “Is this Heaven? It doesn’t get any better than this.” But Hawaii is nothing like Heaven.

When Julie and I were in Switzerland, we’d say, “Is this Heaven? It doesn’t get any better than this.” But Switzerland is nothing like Heaven.

We could spend our lives dreaming about Heaven, but we would be wasting our time.

Why? Because moving from the realm of the seen to the unseen—moving from the creature comforts and tangible benefits we have on this earth—it is impossible for us to grasp a world without 24-hour cycles of day and night. No gravity. No sun. No moon. No stars. No night.

Nothing that we call the familiar will be in that unfamiliar, resplendent, glorious place. So with that truth in mind, let’s try to get a feel for what’s going on in heaven right now, even before the Great Tribulation takes place on earth.

Join me to look at Revelation 4:1-11, verse by verse.

Suddenly, the apostle John—who is isolated in a penal colony on the Mediterranean island of Patmos—is transported to a glorious non-Earth setting where he is told to write about things revealed to him. We can only imagine his frustration as he tried to put into words the indescribable scenes that unfolded before him.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Ig0rZh 

Many wonder if Russia will have any part to play in the last days? The answer is a resounding “yes.” We find the answer in Ezekiel 38-39.

Dear Roger,

When we think about the end times we think about the book of Revelation. The apostle John wrote the entire book of Revelation. Is there much scripture that tells us what Jesus himself actually taught?

Sincerely, Christopher

Dear Christopher,

I’d like for us to interact with Jesus’ personal teachings about his second coming. Don’t hurry. Jesus has a lot to say—and each word is important. Let’s consider 10 examples.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Ig0rZh

I believe that it is fair to say that Mormonism and Christianity are quite different. In fact, their basic tenants are mutually exclusive.

What would you say to someone who states that they can't “help” their homosexuality? I’m thinking of someone who believes that they were born that way and that they can't help the way they feel. I'm always at a loss for words when this comes up, and I don't know exactly where to point them in Scripture.

I’m really struggling with my church. So many people seem to be hypocritical—they just don’t live out what they say on Sunday during the rest of the week. What should I do?

Dear Roger, My husband and I would like to be cremated after our deaths. Is there scripture regarding our decision?

The Bible teaches that the Book of Life is the register of everyone who is going to heaven. Very simply, if your name is not in the Book of Life then you’re not going to heaven.

I know that there is a general acceptance of antidepressant drugs, and these drugs definitely alter brain chemicals. But what about using marijuana to treat my symptoms?

Dear Roger,
From your perspective, what is the real meaning of Christmas? Can you help me dig deeper and really understand?
Sincerely, Esther

Dear Esther,

When I think of the real meaning of Christmas, I always think of John MacArthur’s introduction to a Christmas sermon from almost 40 years ago. He declared several things that Christmas is not. I paraphrased a little bit of it here for you and added a few thoughts.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/jchizhe 

We know where he was part of the time––in Paradise. But a verse about, “preaching to the spirits in prison” opens up other possibilities.