I'm Christian, but I don't always go by the bible. Honestly I tried to read the bible on separate occasions, but I don't understand everything it says.
I can say that I've prayed to God in my times of hardship, and he answered my prayers. You don't always get what you want, but I believe he is constantly giving us the opportunity to get what we ask for. Everything in life can't be handed to you, God gives us obstacles.
I wanted my brother to survive, but it was his time. My brother's spirit visited me and my family members, even my other little brother who was only 6 at the time. He couldn't possibly be lying, when he was deep asleep, and my parents were crying in the middle of the night, and he whispered while still asleep, it's okay mommy, Chris is in heaven. My dad also saw him with his guardian angel.
And at the times I missed him most, I can swear he has pat my head, I don't see him, and it's almost not a physical touch, more like a tingling, beyond my understanding. But there is an afterlife, and God is real. This is coming from a person who is only 17, and doesn't go to church. I'm not a crazy over religious, over the top type of person. I've done a lot of things I shouldn't have, to numb my pain. But I believe everything I do is for a reason, and with God's help I can do great things with my life. So can you.