I am up because at this very moment all I can think of is how much I would like to have you as an audience; I have so many things that I wish I could say to you face to face. Perhaps, it is because I feel like I know you so well; well enough to know that I don't know you, at least not nearly as much as I would like.
I don't know you nearly as well as I would like because you won't let me. You see right now, midnight, friday night, many if not most of you are still up. You might be playing a video game, listening to music, or perhaps looking at a social media site on your phone, iPad, or computer. Maybe you are sitting in your bead sending text's back and forth with friends/a boyfriend/a girlfriend. Maybe you are up simply wishing that you had friends/a boyfriend/a girlfriend to send text's to. If I can be honest it seems that these day's it does not matter which one of those things you are doing. Because whatever you are doing, it is likely accompanied by low self-esteem, feelings of being alone, guilt about something, or all of the above.
For many of you these feelings have lead you to think terrible things about yourself. For others not only have you thought terrible things about yourself, you have also done terrible things to yourself. You know what I am talking about... cutting, other forms of self harm, thoughts of suicide, attempts of suicide.
I am blown away at the number of teenagers who I know have had these thoughts, and/or acted on these actions. I can think of the actual names of MANY of you that I know right now, who have been there or are there right now. The hard part about your names, is that I know them not because you tell me about your pain, low self-esteem, loneliness, and self harm, but because your friends do.
Teenager, can I ask you to do me a favor? I'm talking right now at this very moment, right where you are as you are reading this, would you do me a favor?
Will you turn off your phone, iPad, video game, or music? Seriously turn it completely off. Whatever it is that could be a distraction to you, please go a head and shut it all off (the only thing you should have on is the the device you are using to read this post). Turn it off and listen to me, REALLY, listen to me.
God is real.
He is more real than anything you have ever felt, smelled, tasted, heard, or seen here on earth.
When the Bible say's in Philippians 2 that "one day every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord..." It is REAL, and it WILL happen.
When Jesus say's in John 6 that those who "eat of his flesh, and drink of his blood will never thirst again." he was serious. He actually CAN supply all of your "real life" needs.
When John say's in John 3 that those "who believe him him will have eternal life." He was serious, and he was NOT talking about some day... he was talking about NOW.
You have a reason to SING, to be happy, to feel good... God IS real, He MADE you, HE LOVES you, and He KNOWS you.
So, give up already!
Give up believing the lies that sex, popularity, good looks, a guy, a girl, drugs, alcohol, or parties can make you happy.
Give up on those things, and trust in Him. Trust in his name, trust in his power, trust in the fact that "HE holds the whole world in his hands."
Trust that He made you for a REASON, a reason that no one else can claim. Because when you do, when you finally give up you will find PEACE.
When you finally trust Him, you will see that Heaven, namely God's Kingdom is all around you and available to you now.
Those who submit to His Kingdom and allow HIM to rule their lives, find that in His Kingdom God heals you, restores you, and teaches you to see yourself the way that He does. Which is something to smile about.
All you have to do, is believe!
