I realize that my title may be a bit misleading, so I want to clarify what I mean. I am in no way doubting the existence of God in this article. I have seen things happen in my life and in others' lives that I can't attribute to anything or anyone besides Him. I fully believe in His word and the promise of eternal life for those who follow Him. However, I, and I'm sure many of you, have been asked by non-believers, "What if God wasn't real? What if you died and discovered that there was no heaven? And that your lifelong dedication to Him was all a waste?" This article is a response to that question. Even if God wasn't real, I would still be a Christian because my life is so much better off for having believed in Him.
Believing in God gives me a purpose in life.
Sure, I worry about the future just like everyone else does. The difference is that I, as a Christian, can remind myself that God said, "For I know the plans I have for you, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11). This eases my fear and anxiety because I know that no matter what hardships I go through in life, I have a reason to be hopeful and to look forward to the future.
Believing in God gives me peace and comfort.
If I'm feeling overwhelmed, stressed, nervous or I just need someone to talk to, I talk to God. I instantly feel a sense of peace and comfort, knowing that things are in God's hands now. Although He doesn't always answer my prayers right away and sometimes His answer isn't the one I wanted, getting relief from my worries really is that easy.
Believing in God has given me a community.
Because of attending church, youth group and campus ministry events, I have met so many incredible people. I've had leaders who inspire me to become a better person every day, and I've made friends who encourage me and love me for who I really am. If I wasn't a Christian, I probably wouldn't have met my roommate or most of my best friends at college.
Believing in God has given me confidence.
My entire life I've been a people pleaser. To a certain extent this is a good thing, but for me it means that I worry way too much about how my actions affect others and what they'll think of me for them. However, believing in God changed this for me. Hebrews 10:35 says, "So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you." By being confident that the Lord won't let me down or let me fail, I have become more confident in myself.
Although I wish everyone believed in God too, I'm not going to argue about evolution versus creationism because here's the thing: sure, you can tell me that there is no God. However, you can't tell me that these things that have happened in my life because I'm a Christian don't exist. Whether or not you believe that God was behind them, every one of these emotions and experiences has been real for me. Therefore, even if God wasn't real, I would still be a Christian.
