Ask Dr. Betters
Should Christians be armed?
In this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "I feel like there is a story in the news almost every day about a shooting and then there is all the commentary around gun control, the 2nd amendment and on it goes….”
If a baby is born with a terminal illness, is it ever okay not to fight for the life of the baby?
In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "My friend’s son was born at 30 weeks with a rare skin condition. Babies with this skin condition usually die within the first days to first month of life. My friend has chosen to spend tens of thousands…
Am I abandoning my responsibilities if I put my mom with Alzheimer's disease into a facility?
In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "I am 62 years old and last year my husband and I decided it was time to move my mother into our home to care for her. You see, she has alzheimer’s disease and really started declining quickly…I’m starting to think we might need to look into a facility to put her in but is that abandoning my responsibilities, abandoning my mom? Am I being selfish?"
Is it wrong for me to pray to die?
In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Is it wrong for me to pray to die?"
My baby died 3 weeks after giving birth. How do I let go of the "what if"?
In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Recently I went into labor and had my baby at 33 weeks. He had to be flown to a larger hospital with a NICU and we stayed there for 3 weeks. I can't stop thinking about things I should have done so that I could have kept him in a little longer like I should…
How is it possible to prepare for my child's death?
In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Our son was born with a serious birth defect. The doctors have told us that his time with us will be short and that we need to prepare for his death sometime over the next 6-12 months. How can we wake up everyday and find any joy when we know it might be his last?…”
I am afraid to pray for patience. What should I do?
In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "I have three sons, two have have special needs. I am overwhelmed by how hard it is to care for my boys. I want to pray for patience, but I am afraid that if I pray for patience God will make my life unbearably hard in order to teach me patience. I cannot handle things being any worse than they are now so I don't pray to God and ask for patience...What should I do?"
Can we draw a comparison between how God lost His son to how we lose our children?
In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Can we draw a comparison between how God lost His son, Jesus, to how we lose our sons or our daughters as humans?"
How can we learn to trust the Church again?
In this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "Church gossip has nearly destroyed our family. The timing of invented-stories and stretched-offenses has only intensified our losses, as we were deeply grieving the deaths of nearly a dozen precious people in our lives...
Help! Our only child was murdered...
In this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "Our only child, our 18 year old son, was murdered last year. We're supposed to be Christians. My husband is even a pastor. But I have lost my faith in the goodness of God. I am in such complete and total despair. I've struggled with doubts (probably due to my OCD and scrupulosity)...
Should Christians take antidepressants?
In this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "Should Christians take antidepressants? Is depression a spiritual issue that should not be treated with drugs that will mask a spiritual problem?"
How does a Christian plan for death?
In this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "How does a Christian plan for death? Is cremation an option?"
How does God bless the hurting?
In this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "How does God really bless people who are in pain, people who are hurting? What does it mean to be blessed by God?"
Does God really not give us more than we can handle?
In this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "The Bible says God won’t give us more than we can handle. My friend committed suicide. Clearly God gave her more than she could handle!"
Is God really opposed to suffering and death?
In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "We know through the writings of the saints that they understood many of their sufferings as being sent by God. Does this not contradict the idea that God is opposed to suffering and death?"
My wife keeps leaving me and coming back. Can I divorce her the next time she leaves?
In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "My wife was diagnosed with bipolar and she refuses to admit it, therefore she is not medicated. Over the last 4 years she has left me (and our daughter) several times. Each time she tells me she wants a divorce and I tell her I don’t want a divorce so she leaves. Then, a few months later she apologizes and wants to come back home. Every time I take her back because isn’t that what Christ does for us? My question is, would it ever be okay for me to say, “enough!” Can I ever go through with a divorce?"
Why does God allow earthquakes and school shootings?
In this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "My son asked why God allows earthquakes and school shootings? How do I explain this tough question to him?"
How is a Christian supposed to respond to public tragedy?
In this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "How is a Christian to respond public tragedy?"
How do I deal with the death of my son?
In this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "I'm working through Bible Study your wife wrote, Treasures to Encouragement. It is helping me with the lose of our 22 year old son Cameron who was hit head on and killed by a heavily drunk and drugged driver who was 11 months to day older than our Cameron. My husband and I have been married 24 years and have 3 children...We are all struggling...Any words of wisdom? How do we show appreciation to God for giving us the honor to raise such a great son? The pain of not having Cameron"s presence here is unbearable. It is difficult to function or feel that's ok to ever be happy again. How does our family figure out what to do? We have always been extremely close family. How do we help all the others that are struggling with the lose of Cameron too?"
It is ever okay to give-up on living and go home to Heaven?
In this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "I am 75 years old and my health has slowly been deteriorating over the past 5 years. Recently, my health has gotten much worse and it is unlikely I will ever have a decent quality of life again. I am in constant pain and I need assistance to do even the simplest things. When is it okay to “give up” and go home? I know suicide is wrong, but is it wrong to just stop fighting to live when you’ve lived a full life."