Youth of the Nation Sample

So Much Better

Her father left before she turned thirteen. She had everything she needed, except for his love. Deep inside, she thought she didn’t deserve it. Maybe she’d done something wrong, or there was something wrong with her. She missed him. She looked for love in all the wrong places. With every relationship, she tried to prove how wrong he’d been to leave. She deserved so much better!

He never felt like he belonged. He tried so hard. He made people laugh, showed off, hid his pain, tried to laugh things off. He didn’t really have any friends. He decided he’d make sure they’d remember him. He made a plan and carried it out, and then he was gone. He’d deserved so much better!

Unloved. Unseen. Misunderstood. Broken. Lonely. Depressed. Defeated. Guess what? That’s not what God wants for the youth of the nation. That’s not want He wants for us, nor how He sees us. To Him, we’re not expendable. We’re not playthings. We’re worth more than a joke or a moment’s pleasure. God cares about us so much, that He was willing to do whatever it cost to make it possible for us to have a relationship with Him. He decided to love us before we ever deserved it. He does not treat us based on our sins, but far better than we deserve (Psalm 103:10–12). He loves us more deeply than our parents or anyone else ever could. He constantly affirms His love for us.

God doesn’t care about how foolish we’ve been or what we’ve done; He is always ready to receive us (John 6:37). He welcomes us when others won’t (Psalm 27:10). He does not abandon us (Deuteronomy 31:8). He will not forget us (Isaiah 49:15). We don’t need to earn His love through what we do or say; His grace and favor toward us are a gift (Ephesians 2:8–9). We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38–39). His love does not change (James 1:17). It is always steadfast (Psalm 136:1). What could be better than that?