Dear God,

Why do you kill people? I loved her, God, I loved her. She was like my sister. I hate you for taking her away. I don't want to have dreams about her - could you please make them stop? I can't even look at peanut butter cookies anymore without crying. I hate what you do to us. I don't care if you love me. I don't want to live anymore. Please, God, can you end it?

-M.

Dear God,
I'm really sorry. I want to say that I've been trying my best, but I can't; you would know that it's a lie. I'm not really sure what I'm going through right now and I honestly don't think it really has anything to do with how I feel about you. I know you exist. I know you're watching me. But somehow I just can't make myself care about anything anymore, and all my great plans for being a good person are falling apart. I know we all go through phases where we act out or just keep messing up, but what if I don't wake up tomorrow? What if the last day I spend on this Earth is a day I spend sinning or not living up to my potential?

Anyway, I know you know everything but just know that in my heart I believe in you. I feel better putting it into words. And I wish you could help me out with the whole political situation. I know we just make it worse and worse, and I've seen lots of opportunities you give us moronic humans to improve things just slip right by... but don't stop with the opportunities. I need those opportunities. I don't want to live in this world, and I'm not ready to die - the only solution is to fix this place and I hope you continue to give us chances. And please continue to give me the chances to fix myself. I know I'll get there in the end, if I have enough time to waste being an idiot first.

I'll try to try harder,
Amira

dear god,

i still wonder from time to time whether you exist or not. i feel so lame that i dont know if you exist but i believe miracles happen. i just wanted to say that im sorry for those time si doubt you.

i also wanted to thank you for giving me everything you have. understanding sucessful parents. a brother who isnt afraid to be himself, finally. and my bestfriend who's still there for me when she's miles away.

i know all ive been worrying about latley is a boy. but he means alot to me, he's teh first person ive ever fell in love with and i feel like hes throwing both of our lives away by being with her. id rather him be with me- the more responsible one. ive learned from how ive treated him before and now im just babling.
all i wanted to say is that i love him and i hope we find peace.

also, say hey to grandma and that i love her.tell emily that everyone misses her so much, and kevin that people havent forgotten about him either.

please help people realize that if tehy dont shape up- we'll kill ourselves. let them realize that its better to be helpful than selfish.

thanks for listening.

Dear God,

Why?

Love,
me

Dear God (Allah, Yahweh, etc.),

Are you a woman? I mean, I've asked you time and again for some kind of sign that you exist, and you have yet to do anything direct. If you really were a male God, you'd have put up some kind of billboard with flashing lights saying "Cody, I exist! I also saved a bunch of money by switching to Geico!" and then I'd know for sure. But instead, you seem to be relying on subtlety. I'm a guy; I don't do subtlety. That's why I don't understand women. They're just too subtle. So you must be a woman. The bit in the Old Testament about not liking pork reinforces that belief. So does the robe/toga thing. If you're a guy, some white pants and a loose shirt might be in order.

Anyways, it doesn't really matter to me if you're a man or a woman (although it is interesting to ponder). What matters is that I'd like to know, for certain, if you exist. Of course, that's a rather pointless question, since my life doesn't really depend on your existence, but it would be nice to know one way or the other, so I can stop being all philosophical and get on with the more important things in life (such as deciding which is better: peanut butter or cheesecake; or figuring out what to do with the rest of my life).

Anyways, just wanted to see if you'll do anything this time. You haven't the past 10 or 20 times (I've lost count), but hey, 30th time's a charm, right?

Sincerely,
Cody

(P.S. This isn't meant to mock; I'm just trying to inject a little humor into an otherwise depressing letter.)

Dear God,

You give me a lot. I have a house, and food, and clothes to wear. But why do you give these things to me? I don't understand. There are kids who are undoubtedly better people then I am, yet they have a lot less.

And why do such awful things happen? Why do we think killing people solves conflicts? Why did my ten-year-old friend have to die of leukemia, when she did absolutely nothing wrong? Why her, God?

God, sometimes I think that you must hate me. There's no way I could possibly be good enough for you to love me. Why was I born in the first place? Is there something I was supposed to do, or was I just a mistake? Why am I here? Do you love me, God?

Love,
me

(Thanks, YouthVoice, I think I needed that )