Many people would finish that sentence with the word hard. Life is hard. Although life does contain times of joy and happiness, it also has many hurts and challenges. The difficulties each of us face vary from person to person. For some it is the hurt of betrayal or broken relationships. For others it is poor health or unemployment. For some it is severe loneliness or a great burden of caring for someone we love. Many suffer from anxiety or fear, particularly in times of great change or uncertainty. Others feel that their life is out of control and that no matter how hard they try, they just can’t seem to get their life on track.

Even those that seemingly have everything they need to live a wonderful life find themselves unhappy. They have a good job, a loving partner, a comfortable lifestyle … and yet they are still not happy. They hunger for something more. Their soul is thirsty.

If you are reading this and find that living your life is hard, difficult, or perhaps just lacking true meaning – know that you are not alone!

It is easy to blame our problems on circumstances. We often think to ourselves “My life would be so much easier if only…….”, “Its not fair that …”, “I will enjoy life much more once I …” We look around us for hope, for something that will change and improve our lives. We hope and trust that this something will fix our problems and make us happy – perhaps a new job, a new relationship, more money, or a new hobby!

The Bible however tells a very different story.

The Bible explains that God lovingly created mankind to live an abundant life in perfect fellowship with Him. God created men and women to live a life of purpose and perfect joy. However, soon after man was created, he sinned by disobeying God. He chose to live his own way, rather than trusting God’s way. When man rebelled against God, sin entered the world. Mankind’s very nature became spoiled and corrupted. Man began to lie, steal, murder, betray, and lust. Although still capable of good, he did much evil. When sin entered the world creation itself was corrupted. Diseases and even death itself entered the world. That is the world we live in today.

We live in a world corrupted by sin. We live in a world full of men and women who sin. And even our own selves are corrupted by sin.

Is it any wonder that life is hard?

The Bible is an incredible revelation of God’s will and love. It declares that all men are sinners. But it also declares that God loves us. God truly and sincerely loves each individual soul despite the fact that we are sinners and have rebelled against him. He loves us not because we are beautiful, or because we please him in some way. He loves us because he is good and we are his creation.

God desires to see us healed from our sin. He desires to see us freed from judgement and condemnation. He desires to see us restored into fellowship with him. He desires to see us once again recognising Him as God and living an abundant life following him.

He loves us so much that he made a way for us to be freed from sin and to receive eternal life. That way is Jesus. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. He suffered the punishment of our sins. He made a way for us to be healed and to be restored to God. And he did all that because he loves us.

No matter what you have done. No matter where you are now. You can be absolutely certain of one thing – God loves you.

Having made a way for us to be freed from sin, God invites us to go that way. He invites us to turn from our sin. He calls us to stop pursuing our own way, and to go His way. He invites us to receive Jesus as our King; To become a citizen of the Kingdom of God; To receive eternal life.

That invitation is given to every human soul. It is an invitation of hope. It is an invitation given in love. But he does not force us to follow His way. Instead, He invites us to lay down our burden, and to come to him, to trust him, and to be made whole.

If we trust God and receive Jesus Christ as our King, we become his people, and he becomes our God.

Does this mean that all our health problems suddenly disappear? Does it mean that we suddenly have money in the bank? Do all our problems and difficulties disappear overnight? No, they do not!

But God does promise to do a number of things for those that trust Him and receive Him. He forgives us our sins. God heals us of our sinful nature. He adopts us as his children. He gives us His Holy Spirit. He completely changes our life! The Bible says that we are made a new creature and that all things become new! He promises to never leave us, nor forsake us.

It is true that Christians still face struggles in life. But they now do it with a friend named Jesus. They now have God helping them, comforting them, and encouraging them. They now have a purpose in life. They have eternal life and the promise that Jesus will return and make this world right. God promises us abundant life!

We at Calvary Baptist Church are a people from all walks of life and backgrounds. We are certainly far from perfect, and continue to face different struggles in life. But we do so with the joy, peace, and strength we have in Jesus.

We love to help people by giving them hope – by introducing them to Jesus Christ. We can not fix all your struggles. Nor can we ‘make’ you a Christian. But what we can do, is show you who Jesus truly is, answer your questions, and explain how to make Him your own.

We invite you to attend one of our Sunday services or weekly Bible studies. Our hope is that we might simply show you the truth of God’s love for you. The truth of His invitation and the amazing life that he calls you to. The rest is up to you.

We invite you to seek out truth. We encourage you to find hope in Jesus.

Come and see.