To My Facebook Friends

Dear Facebook Friend….

Jesus often said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Please allow me to speak, candidly and sincerely, into your life. I think I can help. Hopefully you will have “ears to hear”. Hopefully you will discern lots of love mixed into my words. Hopefully you will not mistake my concern for criticism. So here it goes….

You are young, you are intelligent, you are nice. And very depressed. Melancholy has gripped your life. Sadness reigns over you. I write to tell you life can be more than a continuous drizzle; above the clouds of gloom the sun shines brightly.

There is One, only One, who can lift you up and into the sunshine of hope and elation. Jesus fixes people. He proclaimed that God “has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives.” Jesus said He has “come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Who is “they”? They is you and they is me and they is every person.

Before you is a life much better than the one you are now living. But this better life must be received; Jesus will not impose it upon you.It seems you have always put up a strong guard against that which your heart really wants. Like most, you crave acceptance, oodles of money, and a loving and faithful spouse. I assure you these things will not lift your depression.

You are putting the cart before the horse. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” The “kingdom of God” is a spiritual kingdom whereby Jesus is King. This is where the hopeful and elated live. You must seek this kingdom first.

“All these things” are necessities of life including friends, financial stability and a loving spouse. The Lord promises, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” That’s “all your heart.” Jesus promises, “Seek and you will find.”

Precious, not once have you shown the slightest interest in spiritual matters, not even mild curiosity. Never asked a question. Had you opened the door to your heart even a crack I would have gladly told you of the Christ who lifted me above the drizzle into the sunshine, above fear and confusion into peace and contentment. (Never, never would I have lead you into a religion!)

The Bible teaches, “A merry heart makes a a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” Jesus replaces a broken spirit with a new spirit. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.”

I am not suggesting conversion to Christ translates into a trouble free life. Not at all. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” But pointing you to Jesus is pointing you to a better life. Much better. Much, much better. Okay?