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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: Religion is a contentious thing. Many smart and savvy people can agree that religion can be good; others scream louder that it is the epitome of escapism. Many are living in a fantasy that they can think up themselves, ignoring the desperate state of the world. Aren’t religion and escapism merely crutches? – R.E.

A: There are scores of religions that circumvent the Word of God. Mankind suppresses the truth, mixes it with error, and develops the religions of the world. But turning to God in an hour of turmoil and confusion that covers a hopeless world is much more than a form of escapism. Millions of normal, intelligent people have tried and proved that a vital relationship with Christ is the most satisfying experience in all the world. They’ve found that faith in Christ is more than adequate for the pressures of this hour.

Yet some who read these lines are held in the grip of sin’s confusion. Satan is the great pretender, and he tantalizes and destroys. Despair of loneliness has settled down upon souls, and at this very moment, people ponder: “Is life worth living?”

The answer is absolutely! God did not create us to be defeated, discouraged, frustrated, and wandering souls, seeking in vain for peace of heart and mind. The answer to our problem, however great, is as near as the Bible, as simple and as real as one’s heartbeat. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37, NKJV).

Upon the authority of God’s Word, Christ is the answer to every baffling perplexity that plagues mankind. In Him is found the cure; a balm for bereavement, a healing for our hurts, and a sufficiency for our insufficiency. The Bible teaches that “whatever is born of God overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4, NKJV). God speaks to those who are prepared in their hearts to listen. Discern the voice from Heaven, above the noisy din of Earth’s confusion.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

©2026 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

(c)2026 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.