Dear Pastor,

I am a 22-year-old with a five-year-old child. I have had encounters with men that ended in pain, mentally and emotionally. I am dating a guy now, but everything he does makes me suspicious of him. I am so sure that he is going to hurt me, it is constantly on my mind.

All I ever wanted was for someone to care for me in return and to have a family. But the way things are going right now, I don't think I will ever get that. I have a hard time letting go of the past. I don't know what to do. If I talk to anyone in my church, they go behind my back and talk about my business to others and criticise me, instead of giving advice. I must admit I am having problems with my mental state.

Pastor, please pray for me.

D.E., Manchester, Jamaica.

Dear D.E.,

You are only 22 years old, so you have many years before you. You want to do well. That is natural. But sometimes it takes many years for a person to get what he or she wants. You think you will never get a good man. But you may. I repeat, you are only 22. If you rush into a relationship, you might get burnt. Pray and leave everything in God's hand.

You say you have a mental problem. You should go and see a psychiatrist.

Pastor