I know that there are times when I feel as though God has left me and the struggle of life is overwhelming. It is difficult finding the joy when the separation feeling that comes on.
“35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” – Romans 8:35 (ESV)
Notice the question format of the verse above. Paul is putting them out there and then follows with verse 36 to show that we are indeed persecuted by the world as we follow Christ.
“36As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’” – Romans 8:36 (ESV)
So, I have to remember that the struggle of life is real and God is allowing it to happen. We are to embrace that struggle.
But really. Why? When times are the toughest, why does God not just pick us up and protect us from the difficulty instead of allowing us to struggle with this life? Why can’t He just make it all go away? Look back at the words Paul reminds us of “For your sake…” We have been living as predicted.
Paul finishes up this passage with his reminder to us that even though things are tough, we are never separated from God.
“38For I am sure that neither death nor life, or angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)
No matter how bad things are or may be or will be, God’s love is always there to lean on. We are going to be tested, persecuted, and struggle with life, but God never leaves us. We are never separated from HIS LOVE.
When you are struggling, where are you leaning? What direction do you turn for support? Do you know that you are going to make it? Are you able to find solace in the FACT that God’s love is always there?
Trevor's Thoughts 