In the summer of 1997, in the darkness of my room when I was 18 years old, I was hopeless and had no desires or purpose in life but wanting a way out. Growing up with a father who was involved in serious criminal activity created a dark environment. I thought if this is what life was all about; greediness, selfishness and hatred, I didn’t want anything to do with it. I contemplated taking my own life out of desperation, looking for a way out. I chose to ask a God whom I didn’t even believe in for help and to show me He was real. God showed up several days later through a phone call from a friend. He told me Jesus Loved Me and He could live inside of me. I can’t really explain with words but as I confessed Jesus Christ as my Lord and thanked Him for dying on the cross for my sins. The cloud of darkness was NO MORE! There was this overwhelming feeling of excitement that rose up inside me! I ran to tell my father who was an atheist at the time. I told him I had Jesus and I would be okay. I instantly saw things totally different. There was a joy in my heart I never had felt before. I hope you choose to believe there is a way out of hopelessness with God’s help.