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“You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”  Psalm 16:11

I grew up believing that God made me and loved me, and that Jesus died for my sins. That was all I knew about God. I didn’t talk to Him, and figured He was too busy running the world to talk to me.

One Christmas Eve, when I was 20, I learned someone I loved had deceived and betrayed me. It so devastated me that I didn’t want to live anymore, because it hurt too much. The pain was unbearable, and I didn’t know how I would endure it.

Not knowing if He was listening, I told God that I didn’t want to live anymore, but that I wouldn’t do anything to end my life. Then I said that if He wanted to do something with me, that was fine, but I didn’t want to go on and hoped He would just let me die.

About that time, my mother began visiting a Christian bookstore. Since I loved to read, she generously offered to buy me a book or two if I wanted to tag along. Taking her up on the offer, I began reading Christian novels and saw something within the pages that I had never imagined, much less seen in real life. The characters in the books talked to God and Jesus like they knew them…like they were actual flesh & bone people! I was stunned! Were there actually people that talked to them like that way, like they were good friends? And did their lives actually change as a result?

I was living alone in an apartment during that time. I had an old television that rarely worked and hadn’t turned on for months. To my surprise, a day or two before Easter, it turned on immediately when I tried. An Easter special filled the screen.

I watched in horror at the scene before me. The man portraying Jesus was lying on the ground upon rough beams of wood. Cruel soldiers were forcefully nailing his hands and feet to a cross. He cried out in pain, and I wished they would stop hurting this man. I knew little about the real Jesus, but I knew He didn’t deserve this.

It shook me when he looked straight at the camera, making it seem like Jesus was looking at me! The next thing I knew, I found myself face down on the floor, crying, knowing that the real Jesus had suffered tremendous pain and died on the cross for MY sins! He was there because of ME! Overwhelmed with sorrow at this discovery, I begged for His forgiveness for my wrongdoings against Him and others. I offered Him whatever was left of my life. That was many, many years ago, and I have not been the same since.

Fast forward to about five years ago. After accompanying my husband on a work assignment overseas, two of our children and I came back to the United States. I was in the middle of a divorce. Like before, I was devastated. For months, I read the Bible, cried, prayed, cried, questioned, cried, and then I came across this verse:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”  John 10:7-10

I cried out to the Lord, “Where is the abundant life? Your Word says that You came to give us abundant life! This sure doesn’t look like abundant life to me!”

That was a turning point for me. My eyes were opened to many things that I hadn’t seen before. I realized I had put God in a box, and He didn’t fit! To better understand God’s Word, I studied verses in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, instead of relying on their traditional meanings. The more I read, the more I understood that these words, spoken by God through the Holy Spirit, contained promises for us. They were true, and I could believe them because God always keeps His promises. They could change my life.

Immersing myself in God’s Word changed my life. My pain, confusion, and fear vanished, and joy, peace, and love took their place as I immersed myself in God’s Word. The Lord is so good, so loving, and more at work in us and around us than I ever knew. He has given me abundant life, and the great news is that it’s not just for me, it’s for anyone who asks. Jesus, or Yeshua (His Hebrew name) came to give us LIFE!

During the weeks leading up to Christmas last year, I came across that verse in John daily. If I opened a book, it was there. If I went on Facebook, it was there. If I turned on the radio or television, it was there. Every single day. And every time I came across it, I thought about the abundant life that had been mine for the last few years. Real abundant life, living life to the full.

Then, about a week before Christmas, thieves broke into our home. Two of my children and I had been out to dinner with my sister and her family, who were visiting us all the way from Nigeria. Afterwards, we went to a hospital to celebrate the birth of a precious baby girl, born into a wonderful family who has been on the same spiritual journey I and my family have been on. How wonderful to have companionship on this journey!

Upon our return home, we discovered our home had been broken into. We lost jewelry, electronics, and even some of the Christmas presents that were wrapped under the tree. In the midst of it, though, I was not afraid. I didn’t feel violated, as many people do after a break-in. I wasn’t even angry. Disappointed, sure, for the gifts that I could not replace, and for the hearts and minds of the kids that broke into our home.

Looking back, I believe the Lord was not only warning me, but preparing me by reminding me of the abundant life that He has given me. Yes, the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but we have something that he can never steal or take away from us. We have the promise of living forever with God, our creator and the lover of our souls, both here and when our time on earth is done, because Jesus, Yeshua, made it possible.

Are you experiencing abundant life? If not, do you want to? If so, ask Him for it. Jesus, Yeshua, came to give you life, and give it to you abundantly, and He promises that if you seek Him, you’ll find Him.

“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13