My parents were hard-working, faithful people who loved one another and us kids. They set a good example in many ways.  We were middle class folks in a small city. My brothers and sister and I went to good public schools, and each of us had the opportunity for higher education.

Even with all these advantages I felt like something was missing in my life.  My parents, siblings, and friends all loved me, yet I felt an emptiness, a kind of craving.  I tried to satisfy my inner craving with activities and accomplishments. these things offered challenge and busyness, but they didn't fill the emptiness.  I tried filling the emptiness with boyfriends, but although there were thrilling moments, the relationships mostly offered an emotional roller coaster that left me feeling emptier than when I started.  My inner craving persisted.

In my 4th semester of college I met a young woman who told me that what I was really looking for was a personal relationship with God. She said that each of us is born with a God-given craving that can only be satisfied by God Himself.  She also said that God has already provided the way into such a relationship by sending His only Son, Jesus. Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father accept by Me."

As everyone knows, nobody's perfect! But God is perfect and can only be in relationship with others who are perfect. That poses quite the problem for us, doesn't it?  The Bible states , "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That means that we're all in the same sinking boat!

BUT there is good news!

The Bible also states, "The wage that you earn when you sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Jesus never sinned, so He didn't deserve death. He chose to die in place of you and me and every other person, so that we could be considered righteous by God. As the Bible states, "Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God."

All you need to do to start your satisfying relationship with God is to "believe in your heart that Jesus is God & confess with your mouth that God raised Him from the dead."

I took that step very soon after that young lady shared the good news with me. Ever since I did that I've been secure in the knowledge that God loves me, has a good plan for my life, and that I will happily spend eternity with Him! Our relationship has grown more & more satisfying as I've learned to listen to and trust God.

I hope you will join me, and millions of others who have trusted Jesus, in this satisfying relationship with God through Jesus Christ.