S49P6 – The folly of fear: a love misunderstood
Rom. 8:31-35
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
She had always been a pretty good kid, and mom had always been a pretty good mom. Anyone looking in from the outside would have said that they had a very close relationship. Times change, however, and the formative years can bring with them high emotions and evolving personalities. She could see the friction forming between herself and her mother. The relationship was changing, and she did not always feel like she was in mom’s good graces. In time, she began to lead a life that was her own secret, but her mother eventually would learn of that life. The daughter who once felt her mother’s love ever present now doubted that it was available to her when she needed it most.
The fundamental weapon in our battle against fear is simple truth. One of the truths to which we must hold fast is that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Today’s scripture lists a litany of things that try to creep in and convince us that we are no longer in God’s love. Like the daughter who doubts that mom could still love her after what she has done, we may think that God’s love blows like the wind depending on us. We can be afraid to go to him when we most need to do just that. We then have the fear that comes from feeling isolated and without his help. What we must do is consciously remind ourselves that nothing can separate us from this love that we so desperately need. We must exercise confidence in God’s promise of our union with him in love.
What scripture tells us is that nothing can separate us from the love of God. It really paints a picture of us being joined with that love. We are together. God’s love does not merely come near to us or surround us, but it is united with us. This is why no separation can be made. God has brought us together with his love, and no one and nothing can separate what God has brought together. We are talking about the union between Jesus Christ and his bride. That is the kind of love in which we reside, and that is the kind of love that should be sufficient to drive away every one of our fears. Father, remind us that we are always united with You in your love and that no one and nothing can change that.