To be honest, I have been mulling this post over for a couple of days. It is not controversial in any way, it is just that I have struggled to articulate what God has shown me. It is not some huge revelation either, simply that God met me where I was at, and through His Word spoke directly into my situation. Has such a thing ever happened to you? I’m sure it has…
A few days ago I wrote a post entitled Ask and Believe – linked here – where I prayed about something and the answer came. In an entirely opposite way, I prayed for something else and unfortunately the exact opposite happened. It did not shake my faith or anything so grand, as I am slowly learning to trust in God’s will for my life. The unanswered prayer led me to a choice I did not want to have to make, and neither could I put it off. I have since been anxious that I made the wrong decision.
In those moments of fear and worry, I was directed to read the following Bible verses. The comfort they brought is really the intangible substance I am struggling to describe. Perhaps it is best to simply let the words speak for themselves.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 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 (NIV)
Paul was entirely convinced, that is – fully persuaded – that nothing can separate us from the love of God found in Christ Jesus. I was not convinced, based on my initial feelings, until God so gently reminded me of this truth.
The things that Paul lists here are heavy hitters. Death, demons, the powers of hell – none of these things will ever be able to remove us from God’s love.
I have been reading these verses over and over, and letting them minister to me. There is nothing – simply nothing – in all creation that can pull us away from the gravity of God’s love. We are inseparable.
When our prayers do not get the answer we wanted, or when we face times of great difficulty, it can be all too easy to start to doubt God’s love. Yet in Christ and what He did at the cross, there is an immovable, unchanging, eternal testimony of that love.
God’s love does not equal instant access to a 100% prayer record, nor a complete trouble-free existence, but it does mean that no matter what happens, He will be right there with you in the thick of it. He is trustworthy. You can fully rely on Him. That love gives you an assurance that when you one day stand before Him, there will be nothing that separates you from His presence. When we put our trust in Christ, receiving that love and submitting to Him, our sins are washed away and our place with Him is irrevocable.
I needed that assurance this week. Perhaps you will need it today? Put Romans 8 before your eyes, read it aloud and trust that you cannot be separated from His unfailing love.
No created thing can come between you and God’s love when you are fully committed to Christ. There is but One who is not created, and that is God Himself. You are anchored and fixed in that love. Draw on that truth this day and always.
Andy Brown 
What an encouragement on this freedom weekend! I often concentrate on the exact passage, Andy. Even when what I pray may not align with God’s plan, I know he never leaves me. Nothing will separate the love. And in the hard parts of life I always focus on this. God bless you!
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Thank you very much. It’s such an encouragement to know that literally nothing in all creation can separate us from his astonishing love.
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You’re welcome and Amen!
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This is maybe too simplistic but I often think of my relationship with God like that of a child and parent out shopping. He is always there, holding my hand guiding me. I see goodies on the shelves and ask for them, sometimes He says yes, sometimes no. But I never lose faith in His loving presence, providing at the right time and protecting me. That is my simple tuppence worth.
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Thanks Alan, that’s a really helpful analogy. Often we are asking things of God which are just not right for us. As you say, our children might want unhealthy snacks all of the time but as loving parents we have to say no sometimes.
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In retrospect I see a lot of God’s grace present in answered and unanswered prayer. God’s timing is one aspect we often forget and mistakenly assume on. Yes is often quickly forgotten and no’s ultimately wise. I may not always understand but I can trust is what faith often comes down to and the assurance that God knows what He is doing or allowing better than we do. Blessings brother.
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Thank you Bruce. You are quite right. If we knew what God knows, then we would be able to pray perfectly. None of us knows gods will 100% perfectly, and so we pray out of our human wisdom and with the spirits guidance. There are bound to be times when we get it wrong in our fallen state. Praise be to God who knows when to say yes and when to say no.
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What an encouraging two verses those are
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