My daughter asked me recently, “What’s been the worst day of your life?” There have been more than one “worst day ever” – those days when we’ve lost a loved one certainly come to mind. Life in this world can be heartbreaking.
Ten years ago today I was living some of those worst days. I woke up on my 34th birthday filled with sadness, stress, and dread. The day before, I’d been diagnosed with a rare cancer called angiosarcoma. We didn’t know yet what the road ahead would look like, and I’m glad I didn’t know everything that was to come. But I did know this good news:
“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)
These words brought me so much comfort as I walked through the valley of the shadow of death that year. I didn’t know if I’d live to see 35, if my daughter would remember me, if I’d see my sons grow into young men, if my husband would be left to raise our kids alone. But I knew from Romans 8:38-39 that nothing – not even cancer, not even death – could separate us from God’s love.
In these verses, Paul gives us a comprehensive list of all the circumstances and powers that can’t separate us from God’s love. And in case he missed anything, he adds these powerful words: “nor anything else in all creation.” That pretty much covers it, wouldn’t you say?
Notice that Paul doesn’t say “Nothing will separate us,” as if he’s making a prediction about something that could happen but won’t. He says none of these things “will be able to separate us.” God loves us with a rock-solid, certain, steadfast love in Christ Jesus. Something separating God’s children from that love is a complete impossibility. It won’t happen because it can’t happen.
Christ Jesus died and rose again to guarantee this promise: Even on the worst day of your life, nothing in all creation will be able to separate you from God’s love.
No matter what you face this week, nothing will be able to separate you from God’s love.
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