A Devotion
By Joe Guagliardo
Romans 8:35-39
“Nothing can separate us from God’s love.”
September 17, 2023
I imagine we’ve all felt separated from God at one time or another in our lives. Tragedy hits, someone dies, a family member becomes deathly ill, or we may even lose our job. Then, we ask the question, “Where’s God in all this.”
How can we not ask that question? So many negative things occur to us throughout our lives. The important thing is to get past our earthly problems and know that God is by our side.
I’ve been retired from full-time ministry for over 6 ½ years. During that time, my wife Kathy was diagnosed with progressive M.S. She had surgery to remove a foot of her bowel for pre-cancerous lesions. Yet, through all of that, she remained faithful.
Since my retirement, I’ve had 6 surgeries and other illnesses. I can’t say I recall saying, “There is no God; if there was, He wouldn’t allow this to happen.”
Actually, quite the opposite has happened. I may moan and groan occasionally, but my faith is just as strong, if not stronger than it was 6 ½ years ago.
God is always with us, no matter what. And we need to remember that.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake, we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Psalm 44:22)
No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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 8:35-39
In his book, James says:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
James 1:2-3
James tells us that trials (such as illness or death of a loved one) test our faith, but this faith gives us “perseverance” to keep our eye on the prize. That prize is life eternal with Jesus.
Romans 8:35-39 speaks to this issue in a broader context. Nothing can separate us from the “Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Although many hardships will come our way, you and I must be strong and persevere over them.
Yes, we will have problems in this world, and sometimes they may seem never-ending. But nothing can separate us from the love of God, that is, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As I said earlier, we all have problems in this world. Many of you have had many more than the ones I mentioned earlier that have assailed my family. Never give up. Know that God loves you and will help you through all of them.
joegministries.com 