Purpose of the forbidden tree/fruit in Genesis

The Garden of Eden was paradise for Adam and Eve, but it almost seemed cruel for God to have placed a forbidden tree in that garden. The serpent obviously tempted Eve by manipulating the words of God and causing her to question God's command.
Typically people sin because they question God's commands or because they try to justify sin, like how Eve began to believe the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil would "open her eyes" and God was just trying to hold this back from them.
Life is full of choices and temptation. God is a good God who ultimately wants His children to prosper and live a full and joyful life. Although God wants us to obey, He also gives us the freedom to choose between obedience and disobedience-- there are rewards for obedience and consequences for sin. God's commands are for our own good and we need to have faith in that fact. Sometimes trusting God means obeying him without knowing the details of "why." This is where we apply Pro3:5 and need to trust in God's wisdom and love, instead of our own limited understanding.
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Long time no share

Well well well... it has been a long time since I've posted, to say the least. So much has happened in my life, and that is a major understatement. I would have to write a novel to fully document everything, but to give a succinct overview: I got married, pregnant, husband was deployed for 6 months, he came back, we got out of the military, moved to my home in Texas, and now we are going to school and raising our son. Phew! It was tough spitting all that out, but now imagine living it all in less than one year! Was it all a fairy tale and fun... no! But I can still praise God for blessing me with the grace to go through it and find joy in it all. I look back now and am so incredibly thankful for the supportive and comforting people that were in my life at the right time.

To God be the glory.