Category: Religion Publisher: Dr. Jerry W. Hulse
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 126
Copyright: December 25, 2025
ISBN-13: 9798295493447
There is not only a testimony but a heart-touching story that caused me to write and publish "The Essence of Life." It is a narrative designed to answer your questions like 'Does my life matter?', ' Is life worth living?', and 'Why am I here?
You are not reading this book by chance but by divine providence. The Holy Spirit will lift off the pages as you explore the contents of this powerful book. Like some of you, searching for answers and a reason to live, I spent seven years in the 1980s fighting for my sanity. Drugs couldn't save me. Endless highways couldn't heal me. But God met me in the darkness, revealing that personal struggles are part of a larger spiritual journey-hope can emerge even in darkness, and your life can change, too.
I embarked on a tumultuous journey that spanned seven years, fighting an intense battle for my sanity. I found myself trapped in a desperate struggle where neither drugs nor the endless open highways could provide the solace I craved. Yes, throughout the 1980s, I faced an agonizing period where every day felt unbearably heavy and oppressive, a period that many know as a profound struggle with despair and a search for purpose, with questions such as: Does my life matter? Why was I born? Does my life have purpose? I was looking for a reason to live and was finding none.
It was during this challenging time, especially when my physician was persuading my parents to have me committed to an institution, that I made a bold choice to embrace the open highways of America. I embarked on an extensive journey, driving big rigs across the country from coast to coast. The sights and sounds of the open road were captivating, but this physical escape did little to shield me from the internal battles I was facing.
My mind was often a turbulent landscape, filled with overwhelming feelings of despair and hopelessness. In an attempt to cope, I frequently turned to drugs, believing that they would help numb my anguish and keep me alert enough to handle the long, exhausting miles ahead. The highs were fleeting, and the lows were devastating; with every passing mile, I was caught in a vicious cycle that seemed impossible to break.
As I continued to struggle through this chaotic existence, a defining moment came that would change everything for me. I had reached a point where I felt I had exhausted all my reasons for living. I was at the edge of despair, nearing the end of a grueling seven-year fight with my mental health, and it felt as though I was in a deep, dark tunnel with no way out. Yet, in that moment of profound hopelessness, I felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and reassurance, as though the God who had guided my grandfather—a revered and well-respected preacher—was reaching out to me directly. It was a powerful realization: I was not abandoned; there was still hope, a guiding light in the darkness, reminding me that I did not have to face my struggles alone. This moment marked the beginning of a transformative journey toward healing and renewal.
In what I can only describe as miraculous interventions, He sent angels—individuals who approached me with messages, insisting that the Lord God Jehovah had sent them. These strangers seemed to know details about my life, both deep and personal, often revealing insights I had not yet uncovered within myself. Their presence extended support, kindness, and hope, reminding me I was not alone.
What had begun as a frantic escape from my pain and turmoil gradually transformed into a rewarding 43-year career in trucking. During my time on the road, I discovered not only a passion for the open road but also a profound sense of purpose, showing that change and hope are possible.
For the last 26 years of that journey, God redefined my role from being merely a trucker to becoming a trucker evangelist. In this newfound capacity, He inspired me to reach out, touch lives in inner-city communities, and share messages of hope and encouragement with individuals across America through radio, TV, and other channels, which reached people around the globe.
Through my experiences and challenges, I realized that my struggles had uniquely equipped me to connect with others grappling with their own battles. It became my mission to spread messages of faith, resilience, and the belief that change is possible and attainable, but sometimes, like me, we have to come to the end of ourselves.
Later, I received news that a close friend’s daughter, overwhelmed by abusive circumstances and feeling utterly hopeless, made the devastating decision to leave her children in the care of a friend. She drove to a church parking lot and took her own life. This heartbreaking event raised a profound question that resonates with millions around the world: "Why am I here, and does my life truly matter?"
This question not only reflects a universal struggle but also serves as a reminder of the importance of reaching out to those in pain, reaffirming their worth, and walking alongside them in their journeys toward hope and healing.
"Why am I here, and does my life matter?" These questions reflect a universal struggle, reminding you that your search for meaning is shared by many and that hope is possible.
These questions-'Why am I here?' and 'Does my life truly matter?'-are universal struggles. My book, The Essence of Life, offers hope and guidance, showing that no matter your pain, transformation is possible through faith in Jesus Christ. Within its pages are subjects such as:
• Why Am I Here?
• Why Me?
• How Special Are You?
• Why Does My Life Matter?
• What If My Plan Fails?
• Great Minds Think Alike
• A Look at Man and Other Religions
• The Mind of Man and the Mind of Christ
• Understanding the Power of the Blood
• Is Jesus the Only Way to God?
The book examines man's search for meaning, explores Einstein's theory of relativity, and the thought of riding upon a beam of light through the universe. It also speaks of his ability to solve problems in his sleep.
The book compares the teachings of world religions, often allowing their own writings to speak for themselves. Yet above all, it points to Jesus Christ, the Author and Giver of life, encouraging you to see Him as the true source of hope and purpose.
Over the years, I have witnessed God use this book in remarkable ways that I never anticipated. One particularly moving story comes from a pastor in Nairobi, Kenya. Deeply impacted by the book’s message, he decided to invest his own financial resources to translate it into the local language, publish it, and distribute it widely across the nation.
The response has been extraordinary.
Reports have come in from various regions detailing how the book has touched the hearts of many, especially among abused women working as prostitutes on the streets. Through its pages, these women discovered messages of love, hope, and worth—elements they had felt were absent from their lives. This newfound understanding empowered them to surrender their lives to Christ.
As a result, many of these women began to experience significant transformations, finding not only spiritual renewal but also a sense of purpose and identity. Their stories highlight the profound impact that this book has had on their lives, offering them a path toward healing and a fresh start.
This God-inspired book has the potential to change lives—yours included—by bringing hope and inspiration to those who seek it. Others have written to tell me they discovered copies in unexpected places. One testimony came from Mexico, where a person found the book discarded in a dumpster. After reading it, they said their eyes were opened concerning other religions, and they gave their heart to Christ.
Whether you're feeling lost, hopeless, or questioning if faith can truly transform your life, my book, The Essence of Life, offers practical guidance and spiritual insights to help you discover your purpose in Christ.
At its heart, The Essence of Life is about discovering purpose. It is written for those who have asked, 'Why am I here?' and for those feeling lost or hopeless. It is an invitation to find that your life does matter, that you were created with purpose, and that hope can be found even in the darkest moments.
The foreword is written by internationally known healing evangelist W. V. Grant, whose ministry has touched millions worldwide.
If you're questioning your reason for living or feeling uncertain about faith, The Essence of Life offers insights that can help you find clarity and hope.
For years, I struggled with the same questions many people ask. Why was I born? Does my life matter? Is life worth living?
Today, I understand that God was preparing me for a purpose I could never have imagined. I have become a third-generation preacher under the ministries of A. A. Allen and Don Stewart, serving as their International Evangelist and representing the message that changed my own life.
The greatest discovery I have made is this: The essence of life cannot be found in possessions, success, religion, science, or human wisdom. The essence of life is found in Jesus Christ, for He alone is the Giver of Life itself.
If you have ever wondered why you were born, why you matter, or whether life is worth living, perhaps my book The Essence of Life was written for you.
Because your life matters, and the One who gave you your life has a purpose for it, when we discover the essence of life, which is found in Christ, we will find inner peace, profound purpose, and a sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves.
PS. Check out my article: Precepts from my book: The Essence of Life.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
International Evangelist Jerry W. Hulse, Ph.D. Miracle Life Church International
Excerpt
Chapter 4
Why Does My Life Matter?
The scriptures teach that God foreknew who would choose His plan, and He also knew that the majority would reject it and be lost forever. We were predestined to become His sons and daughters at the cross, and He approaches us by preaching the cross, encouraging us to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Accepting Jesus is the first step to Salvation.
God demonstrated a desire to save people through His love, grace, and mercy, and we must understand that God’s divine plan for us is in the Spirit. When we accept His plan of salvation, His Holy Spirit takes up his abode within us, enforcing this plan as Spiritual law, which will cause natural law to be for or against us. In the book of Proverbs, He is called the Spirit of Wisdom, and we need his classroom.
Did you know that the Holy Spirit’s great reservoir of wisdom and counsel resides within our spirit, just waiting to be released? That’s right, we may read God’s word, but we will not find a book with our name on it; however, our purpose and calling can be revealed through the personal inward work of the Blessed Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit knows our purpose and calling, for He was in the Father’s presence when our lives were planned.
Jesus fulfilled numerous scriptural prophecies that validate His identity and mission, thereby precluding the claim that He was an impostor. Through His life, death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus established a new covenant rooted in faith— one that emphasizes belief in Him and His completed work on the cross. This transformative covenant promises believers eternal life and the profound opportunity to be adopted into God's royal family.
The law, with all its ordinances and sacrifices, could only put man’s sins forward for another year, but the animal sacrifices could never pay the sin debt passed on to us through Adam's rebellion. God would not accept an innocent animal to redeem man’s sins for eternal life.
God gave his lamb as a ransom for all, and the sin debt was paid in full. Jesus, often referred to as the second Adam, endured a profound and unjust trial, ultimately being convicted and executed as a common criminal. He hung between Heaven and Earth on a brutal Roman cross, a symbol of suffering and sacrifice. In this moment, He bore the weight of humanity's sins— encompassing every transgression from the past, every struggle of the present, and all the failings yet to come. “The wrath of God was satisfied when His Son, Jesus, hung and died on that lonely Roman cross for the sins of fallen man.”
This selfless act was part of God’s divine plan to redeem humanity. By giving up His only Son, God opened the door for many to be adopted into His royal family, inviting us into a relationship filled with grace and love. This adoption is made available to all who turn to God in faith, genuinely repent for their sins, and accept the free gift of forgiveness offered through Jesus. Through this act of faith, we are welcomed into a new life, becoming sons and daughters of God, heirs to His promises, and partakers in His eternal kingdom. Corinthians 5:21“He that knew no sin was made sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him.”
Accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior marks the beginning of a life-changing new covenant with God, highlighting Jesus's Lordship in your life. This acceptance involves recognizing that Jesus willingly died on our behalf, serving as our substitute for sin. In doing so, we acknowledge the profound sacrifice He made, which signifies our need for redemption. When we embrace this truth and act on it, we surrender all rights to our lives and choose instead to follow Him as our Lord and Savior.
This commitment signifies that we are no longer our own; instead, we have been purchased at an extraordinary price—the sinless blood of the Son of God. Through this relationship, we are called to a new life characterized by faith.
Here Are Two Key Principles for Living in Victory!
1. “Realize that God knows you and you are essential to Him.”
2. “Realize that life matters because God loves you just as you are.”
There should be no room for depression and loneliness if we understand that God loved us enough to send His Son to die in our place so that we, through faith, might become the sons of God and be adopted into his royal family, becoming heirs with God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We, as His children, need to speak His word aloud into the atmosphere, declaring that His promises and benefits are working in us, remembering that He watches over His word to fulfill it, and if He cares about the sparrows and knows when one dies, then He cares about you. He cares for spouses who have lost their partners. “Is That You?”
God cares about those incarcerated and serving their sentence for crimes against society, including the mother who has a son imprisoned and facing certain death without a miracle of mercy from a higher court. Most importantly, God cares for those who feel alone.
People are important and valuable to God, and He does not want us living in bondage but in the power and victory of the cross.
Our Savior delivered a profound blow to the sin of humanity when He was crucified on the cross. By raising Him from the dead, God justified us—an opportunity for us to enter His holy presence as individuals who are entirely free from sin. Through the sacrifice and shed blood of Jesus Christ, we are declared righteous, not by our own merits, but through His grace. Now, it is time for us to actively embrace our identity as those who have received this incredible gift of forgiveness, and start living with confidence that comes from knowing God has pardoned our sins, and begin putting the devil, who seeks to ensnare you, where he rightfully belongs: and that is under your feet.
Dear reader, we must never give the devil an inch, for if we do, he will become our ruler. He loves to disguise himself and lure us into taking the bait in front of us, like an angler trying to catch a fish. He will make it look appealing, but remember, if we do take the bait, it will have consequences and place us in bondage. Isaiah 40:31, “But those who wait (hope) in the LORD will renew (exchange) their strength for His. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.”
Four Truths to Stand On!
1. We find in God's word that the Lord never changes.
2. The LORD is the Everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the Earth.
3. He will not grow tired or weary; His ways are higher than ours.
4. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
We don’t need a psychic or a horoscope to forecast our future; all we truly need is to take joy in our relationship with the Lord and explore the depths of our own hearts. Our future is not a distant entity lying ahead of us, as many assume. Instead, it has been embedded within us from birth by a loving Creator who has a profound understanding of our potential and purpose.
God does not abandon us on our journey; instead, He walks alongside us through every challenge and triumph, assuring us that we are never alone as we navigate life's complexities. By cultivating a deeper connection with ourselves and our faith, we can uncover the beauty and possibilities that lie within us, guiding us toward a fulfilling future. “Christ in me, the hope of Glory.”
Professional Reviews
The Essence of Life
“Dr. Jerry Hulse’s books are representative of the anointing of the Holy Spirit that is upon his life.” He’s been through the rain, storms of life, and the fire, and as a result, graduated into one of the top deliverance evangelists of our generation.
PS. I was impressed with the Chapter: Great Minds are Developed."
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