Over the past several days, my quiet times have been in the book Identity by Eric Geiger. As he suggests, I am going through it very slowly, so that I can meditate on the words and let them sink deep within me; which also means I look up each and every verse he lists.
I can’t tell you how many times in my life, I feel that God is not there with me. Oh sure my head tells me that He is there, but when difficulties, failures, or challenges come and I don’t see Him working or can’t feel His presence doubts rise. Oh and don’t get me started when I sin, there is the feeling that my Heavenly Father separates Himself from me.
This morning’s reading focused on God’s love as a Father. The following verse came up, which, by the way I have read many times before:
“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.”
Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)
Like I said, I have read this verse many times but something new popped out at me, “…the love of God IN Christ Jesus our Lord.” Admittedly, I sat stunned for a few moments thinking. The thought occurred to me if God would go through such lengths to adopt me as His own child, why would He separate Himself from me?
His plan goes back to the first Christmas. He sent His Holy Spirit to impregnate at a teenage girl, who could have been stoned to death had not Joseph obeyed the angel and accepted Mary as His wife. This baby grew to become a traveling Rabbi, sharing His Father’s message of love, hope, and redemption taking twelve men with Him. He was hassled by the religious leaders of the day, who eventually sent Him to the cross for heresy. The truth of the matter is, this was God’s plan all along. He sacrificed His Son Jesus so that we could be assured of His love as His child, and be free of the bondage to sin.
How dare I even entertain the thought that He isn’t there with me through everything. But even that statement will not separate me from His love. Personally, I think He feels sorry for me when those thoughts come.
Someone made this analogy, that His presence and love is like a father who is holding the hand of his child as they cross the street. As much as that little one wants to pull away and run, the father’s grip is stronger and constant. Wow! The best part is, He loves us more than other’s love us or the love we have for our families. That’s huge.
How about you? Are you feeling like God has abandoned you or He doesn’t love you? Oh beloved, of the Father, He hasn’t left or stopped loving you. Reread the Romans verse, meditate on it, and allow God to speak through it into your heart.
“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.”
Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)
Solitude with the Father 