In the midst of your despair, and your doubt, and frustration, and hopelessness, I want you to realize that Jesus Christ offers to you another view of life - a view that is truly beautiful.  Jesus has some special words for us: He said, "I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly."(John 10:10) With these words, Jesus lifts life above the physical realm and assures us that the abundant life has a divine and eternal quality.  The Bible tells us that we were created in the very image or likeness of God, and you can be sure that if God made us like himself, then our lives must have tremendous meaning, destiny, and purpose.

Jesus came to give each of us a good life.  And you can enjoy the benefits of that abundant life right here on the face of this earth.  Life can have many beautiful moments, which you can and should enjoy and cherish.

It is very true, of course, that life has its high and its low points.  Being moody and despondent on a temporary basis is a natural part of every personality.  However, please don't allow your deep and despondent moods to control your very being.  I know that you may be tempted to blame yourself unduly for all the things that ever go wrong.  You may want to punish yourself and others for the deep personal problems, which you encounter.

However, the abundant life, which Jesus gives, prepares our hearts with a mature love which can endure pain and suffering.  The Apostle Paul says that this mature love "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails."(1 Corinthians 13:7-8)

Please listen to me very closely.  It is important that you understand this.  God really cares for you.  In John 3:16, we read, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." There are Christian people who really care for you too.  We care whether you live or die.  We want you to experience and enjoy that abundant life in Christ.  We want to introduce you to that love that never fails.  John also tells us in I John 4:18, "There is not fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear." This love really can be yours and you can have and enjoy a life that is meaningful and purposeful.  If you would enjoy life, then serve the giver of life -- God.  Again, the Apostle John says in I John 5:3-4, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith."