Hope In Trials - March 13

Read Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor 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.

Reflect

Has life ever been so difficult that God felt far away? What gave you comfort during that time?

It’s not uncommon to be anxious about your salvation. Maybe you’ve noticed this in your kids, or remember dealing with it yourself. That sense of dread every night. It’s even part of that old nursery rhyme many of us learned.  “Now I lay me down to sleep” the old rhyme goes. “I pray the Lord my soul to keep. And if I die before I wake…” Gulp! “…I pray the Lord my soul to take.”

Even as adults, that thought of death brings with it many worries. What if I’m not really saved? What if I said the wrong words when I prayed? Did I “mean it” enough when I asked God to save me? Did that last sin cross a line? What about the next sin?

These are doubts and questions we’ve all had at some time. And they lead to day after day of dread, and worry, and repeated cries to God to save us.

If that’s you, take a moment to really read and soak in the meaning of today’s verse. Paul’s words emphasize that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ! Even when you’re afraid or doubtful you belong to Him! He had redeemed you! There was no need to fear saying or doing the wrong thing because salvation has never depended on you and your actions. Salvation depends on the love Christ and His love alone. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

As you think on this verse, let this knowledge help you grow and mature in your faith. Whenever you face new challenges, you can be confident God is at your side. Whenever friends abandon or betray you, God will always be faithful. No matter what you’re going through, God will never turn His back on you.

Warren Wiersbe said this about today’s passage: “To begin with, God does not shelter us from the difficulties of life because we need them for our spiritual growth (Romans 5:3-5). In Romans 8:28 God assures us that the difficulties of life are working for us and not against us. God permits trials to come that we might use them for our good and His glory. We endure trials for His sake (Romans 8:36), and since we do, do you think that He will desert us? Of course not! Instead, He is closer to us when we go through the difficulties of life.”

As you go through the hardships of life or if you suffer persecution for the sake of Christ, no matter what the struggle, if you are in Christ, you have hope! You are never alone. He is always with you. And nothing will ever be able to separate you from His sacrificial, redeeming love.

Respond

Lord, thank You for the incredible hope of knowing that I am never alone and You will never desert me. No matter what I go through here on earth, nothing can separate me from Your love. Because I belong to you, I conquer and overcome. Victory in Jesus. Thank You, Lord! Amen.

Reveal

Offer reassurance to a fellow believer who is going through a hard time that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ. God is close to us in our suffering.