Abundant Life in Christ
Have you ever found yourself asking, "Where is the life?" Not just existence, but that deeply satisfying, abundant life that seems to hover just beyond reach? If so, you're not alone. Many of us spend years—even a lifetime—searching for fulfillment in places that ultimately leave us empty.
The Endless Search for Fulfillment
During my junior high and high school years, I poured myself into tennis. I trained relentlessly, climbing rankings and winning tournaments, convinced that athletic achievement would bring the satisfaction I craved. And it did—temporarily. But no matter how many victories I collected, that hollow feeling always returned, pushing me to accomplish more yet never feeling complete.
After college, when my competitive tennis career ended, I shifted my focus to coaching. Even after building one of the top teams in Texas, something was still missing. The emptiness persisted, and I continued wondering, "Where's the life I'm looking for?"
Later, when God called me into vocational ministry, I thought this is where the abundant life has to be. I’m working in a church, doing Kingdom work. But no matter what good things happened, that familiar emptiness returned, leaving me unfulfilled and still searching.
Perhaps you've walked a similar path. Maybe you've sought fulfillment in:
Sports or extracurricular activities
Career advancement or professional achievements
Meaningful relationships—finding a best friend, boyfriend/girlfriend, or spouse
Material possessions—a better car, larger home, or the latest technology
But after acquiring these things you wanted so desperately, you still found yourself feeling empty, unsatisfied, and wondering, "Where is the abundant life?"
The Religious Pursuit
Many of us turn to religion in our search for meaning. We convince ourselves that following a moral code, maintaining spiritual disciplines, or adhering to religious practices will finally bring the fulfillment we crave.
However, this approach typically leads to one of two outcomes:
We fail to meet moral standards, feel like failures, and eventually give up—finding no life there.
We become skilled at hiding our struggles while showcasing our religious accomplishments, maintaining a facade of having it all together while feeling empty inside.
The Confusing Part
Here's what makes this especially puzzling for those of us in the church: Jesus explicitly promised abundant life! In John 10:10, He says:
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
So what's happening? If Jesus offers abundant life, why does it remain elusive even when we pursue good things—including religious activities?
Life in Christ: The Answer Hidden in Plain Sight
The answer appears throughout Scripture, though we often miss it:
John 1:4 tells us: "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."
Jesus declares in John 14:6: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life."
To Martha, Jesus proclaims in John 11:25: "I am the resurrection and the life."
1 John 1:2 states: "This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life."
The truth is this: Life isn't found in accomplishments, possessions, relationships, or even religious activities.
Life is found in Person.
Life is found in Jesus because Jesus Himself is the life.
The Transformative Revelation
When God revealed to me that Jesus is my life—that I already possessed abundant life in Him from the moment I accepted Him as my Savior—everything changed. I finally found rest and stopped chasing fulfillment in other things.
This revelation has been incredibly freeing and life-giving. It showed me that in Christ (the One who is Life), I am enough and have everything I need in Him.
Scripture, of course, declares these truths:
Colossians 2:10 assures us: "So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority."
2 Peter 1:3 declares: "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."
Living Out Life in Christ Daily
You might wonder how this works practically. What does it look like for Jesus to be your life in everyday living?
The apostle Paul explains his experience in Galatians 2:20:
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Upon accepting Christ, Paul died to his old self and became someone new. Jesus came to live in him spiritually, giving him new life—abundant life.
Paul's response was to live in dependence on Christ. The Greek word translated as "faith" here is "pistis," meaning trust, reliance upon, and dependence. Paul lived each day trusting that Jesus was his life and source.
Finding Rest Through Abundant Life in Christ
The same is true for us. If Jesus is our life—our abundant life—then we can trust this reality even when feelings or circumstances suggest otherwise. We depend on Him as our life and source.
As we cultivate this dependence on Christ, He leads us to find and experience rest in Him. You can stop chasing after abundant life because you already have it in Christ. May your soul find rest today, and may you begin to truly experience real life in Christ.
Life in Christ isn't about doing more or being better—it's about recognizing that in Him, you already have everything you need and learning to live out of the new life you have as a new creation in Christ. The abundant life you seek isn't waiting somewhere in the future; it's available now through your relationship with Jesus.
