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Have I lost His love?

"Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened  with death?" (Romans 8:35)

I have read Romans 8:35 several times but today the way the NLT version worded the question after the first statement caught my attention.

"Does it mean he no longer loves us if..."

I can fill those dots after the "if" with a myriad of different scenarios. In the end, I feel like it boils down to that frustrating question--why do bad things happen? Can I go a little deeper? Why do bad things happen when you're doing your best to follow God? Have I lost His love?

There's multiple scenarios, explanations, possibilities given when pastors are asked this question. There's God's sovereignty, His ultimate will, human consequences and free will to factor in the answer. The answer is never an easy or simple one. Sometimes the answer is simply because we live in a broken world. Not that the last answer ever brings much immediate comfort. Some explanations can be seen years later when I look back at the threads that are woven together to form the tapestry that is my life.

So back to Romans 8:35... "Does it mean he no longer loves us if..."

Paul goes on to answer adamantly, "No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love." (Romans 8:37-38)

This is the same Christ who wept when His dear friend Lazarus died. Being God, He wept despite the fact that He knew He was about to call Lazarus back from the dead. So why the tears? I think He wept because it hurt Him to see His dear friends (the sisters Mary and Martha) so broken. (John 11)

Here are the facts I've gathered so far:

  • He loves me. 
  • It hurts Him to see me sad. 
  • No mistake I make stops Him from loving me. 
  • No event equates that He has stopped loving me.

Romans 8 ends with this final thought, "...nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39b)

The love that God has for us that was ultimately displayed through the death and resurrection of His Son never ends. No matter how far I stray, how many mistakes I make, or what I endure, I can always reach out and find His love. He will always be there waiting for me. 

So does the bad mean I've lost His love? No, because if you have Jesus, you can find victory, restoration, redemption, healing, and hope "through Christ who loved us."

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