Often the hardest people to convince that they need God are the people who are convinced they don’t need God!

They aren’t necessarily bad people; in fact, like your cousin, they may be very good. But even their goodness can be a barrier, because it makes them think they don’t need God’s help in order to become better. Independent and self-sufficient, they see little reason to include God in their lives. Even when hard times come they don’t necessarily turn to God for help, convinced instead that they can make it on their own. Tragically, they may never think about the fact that some day they will die and face God. The Bible warns, “The pride of your heart has deceived you” (Obadiah 3).

Pray for your cousin; as I often say in this column, only God can break through the stubbornness of a rebellious heart. Pray too that God will give you opportunities to share your faith with her, and also to encourage her to examine why she has shut God out of her life. The Bible says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders (i.e., non- believers); make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5).

In addition, ask God to give you a deeper love for your cousin, and also to help you be an example to her of Christ’s joy and peace and hope. She may not believe what you say; she may even resist it. But she can’t argue with a life that’s been changed by Christ.