Nothing Separates Us

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

Romans 8: 35, 37

Time and again God proves his faithfulness to those who know and love him. Yet, when faced with our realities and challenges we need reminding. Why do we think God's failed us every time life gets hard?

Is it our lack of faith? Do we doubt God will or can triumph or is it more our stammering heart condition that thinks we're unworthy of God's love? Do we think our circumstances are beyond God's love and therefore we stand separated?

It's easier to lend encouragement to others experiencing hardships; to remind them of God's faithful and unfailing love. But when it comes to ourselves, we place such harsh restrictions on our own condition. We stumble over our circumstances - waste time skirting around God, covering up our heart-truth with "I'm fine" or "I've got this, God" until the truth weighs heavy and we fall flat on our faces.

We acquire what a favorite author calls "soul amnesia." We forget we are heirs to God's kingdom famly through Christ. That we have every right to ask God for help and that, like every loving father, will come running. We need reminding of God's promise that he will never leave us or forsake us. We need recall God is our Jehovah Jireh, the source and provider of all our needs.

So, how do we remember? How do we stand in faith with the confidence that God's got it all under control? How do we learn to trust him in the midst of our reality and encourage our hearts?

First, record past experiences where God provided in tangible ways.

Second, read accounts of God's faithfulness in scripture, especially Romans 8 and Hebrews 11. All these saints experienced long waiting periods but God proved himself faithful to His promises.

Third, place your hope and faith in God's ability to transcend your circumstances.

Fourth, pray with confidence that God's unfailing love will never leave you and that His will always prevails.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:38-39.