Sometimes life gets the best of us.

Sometimes we feel lonely.  Sometimes we fall into depression.

Sometimes we're eaten up by guilt over things we can't change, and we wish we could stop dwelling on them, but we don't know how.

Sometimes we're bitter and angry because we can't let go.

Perhaps the worst feeling of all, though, is the feeling of emptiness.

There are times when bad things happen, and we all get sad.  But what about those times when nothing particularly bad is happening - things could certainly be worse - and yet, somehow, you're not content?  You say that you're "bored," but it's something more.  You yearn for something new... something different... but you have no idea what it is.  All you know is that you're not happy.  You just feel... empty.

Whether or not we grew up in the church, most of us have been bombarded with religious messages for much of our lives.  For many people, religion is something you're born into.  For others, it's like a club.  Worst of all, some people treat religion as if they were playing "Red Rover"; they're always trying to get as many people as possible onto "their side."

Because of this, many of us (especially those of us who are gay) tend to tune out people who use religious language.  We've heard it all before.

That's a shame, because at its heart, Christianity says something truly incredible and profound - something that has the power to really shake up your life if you let it.  And yet somehow, that message keeps getting lost in all the hypocrisy and misunderstandings that characterize modern-day religion.

The message is this:
The same being that created the entire universe... deeply loves you.

There's something really remarkable about Christianity, because it forces us to look at things completely upside-down.  When all those preachers are out there preaching hellfire and brimstone, and while so many of us keep thinking that we're supposed to approach God like miserable little insects, true Christianity is telling us the opposite - that God treasures us the way you would treasure a lover.

So many religions want you to try to "appease" gods and plead with them to show you some mercy.  Meanwhile, Christianity says that no matter how much guilt you're carrying around in life, God is ready to forgive you for everything you've ever done wrong, if you just ask.

Jesus taught us with his words and actions that God's love is free to us.  And yet here again, Christianity forces us to look at things upside-down, because although God's love is free to us, taking hold of it requires us to let go of everything else.

If you're not a Christian, this is what many Christians refer to as being "born again," although that term now has negative connotations in some circles.  Essentially, this involves turning your life completely over to God.  It means that you give up trying to do everything yourself, and that you're willing to let God change anything in your life that God wants changed - whether it's your selfish attitude, your prejudices, your sexual practices, your pride, or anything else.  Basically, you're allowing God to do a complete makeover on your life.

If your life needs a change, this is a decision that has the power to turn your world completely around.  Keep reading to find out how.

Even if you already are a Christian, it's easy to get off-track and find yourself back in a place where you're living for yourself again.  Things just don't seem right, and you know it, but you're not sure how to get out if it.  It may be time for you to recommit your life to God, reminding yourself why you became a Christian in the first place and renewing the promise you made the first time.

Whether it's your first time, or whether you've done this before, when you make this decision, God shows you what needs to be changed, and God helps you change it.  You're not on your own anymore.  Of course, you're still only human, so you'll screw up sometimes.  We all do.  But God forgives you for that.  Accepting Jesus doesn't mean that you've already gotten your life in order, or that you'll never have another selfish thought.  It only means that you're willing to take the plunge - to make that first step over the edge - and let God guide you.  When you mess up, God will pick you up and help you get going again.  The point is, you never stop trying, and you never stop seeking God from that point on.  And God is always changing you, making you more like Jesus.

For Christians, Jesus is our ultimate model of how we should live.  And Jesus died a horrible death, even though he didn't deserve it.  When we accept Jesus, we accept not only his life as a model, but also his unique status as God's Son to be in charge of our lives, guiding us from day to day.  Finally, we accept that Jesus' undeserved punishment carries great significance for us - it means that we can be forgiven for what we've done wrong, even though we deserve to be punished.  It's really an amazing thing.

There is no one way to commit your life to God.  If you know that you've been living for yourself in the past, that you haven't always made the right decisions, and that you're willing to give God control from this point forward, all that remains is for you to tell God so.  (There are many sample prayers available on the internet or elsewhere, but God isn't interested in your words anyway.  God looks at your heart.)

If you've made that commitment (or recommitment), tell people!  If you have close Christian friends, talk to them about your decision and ask for their prayers and help.  If you're not already involved in a church, find a church to get involved in.  If you can't get involved in a Christian community near you, talk to us here at GayChristian.Net and we'll help you however we can.

Whatever you do, don't let this stop here.  As a Christian, it's important to grow in your faith.  As you get involved in serving God and serving others, life takes on a new meaning, and your whole outlook on life will change.

Trust God, and your whole life will change.  And that's a guarantee.