If you are questioning the love of God because of a disappointment or trial, turn your eyes upon Jesus. He is the love of the Father in the flesh displayed.
SHAUNA: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Joni, isn’t it wonderful that we can lean on the promises of Scripture?
JONI: Like Romans 8, right?
SHAUNA: Amen.
JONI: You know,Shauna, the last part of that chapter, the Apostle Paul says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers shall separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Now that is a sweeping statement. It’s a rock-solid truth that has very practical implications. Especially for anybody who is going through suffering.
And let me explain that. Sometimes when we read this part of Romans 8, we feel like it’s a verse that we are supposed to believe it. It sounds more like theological doctrine than practical reality, especially when we are the ones facing trouble, hardship, famine, sword. But the apostle—who, incidentally, suffered a lot more than persecution or famine—he wrote this sweeping statement specifically for those who would doubt the love of God in the middle of hardships. And you’ve been there. Be honest. I know I have. You and I have doubted the love of God when we have faced certain troubles or really tough hardships. When the sword of cancer is poised over our head. Or when we are weary of the present and fearful of the future. Do doubts and questions haunt us until we feel utterly separated from the love of God?
If so, take a second look how Romans 8 ends up. It says, “I am convinced that neither death nor life the present nor the future, nor any powers shall separate us from the love of God … that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Those last seven words are all we need to bolster our faith, for if ever we are tempted to doubt God’s good intentions, if ever he seems to be an uncaring deity sequestered in an ivory tower untouched by our pain, we’ve got to remember the love of God that is in Christ. If we can even scratch the surface of who Jesus Christ is and what he has done, we too will be convinced that nothing can harm our soul; nothing can do injury to our soul; not a thing in the universe can separate our soul from our Savior. Because the love of God is expressed in Christ who bore the weight of sin, the sting of spit, the bite of the lash, the brunt of the fist, the accusations of ignorance, and the sufferings of the world. This is love never to be doubted or betrayed. Why in the world would we doubt the love of God when it has been expressed so painfully, horrifically, yet beautifully in Christ’s death for us? As it has been said, “This is love poured out like wine, as strong as fire.”
So, yes, yes. Romans 8:35-38 is what you need to shore up your confidence in God, especially when you’re hurting. Thomas Merton has good advice here. He one said, “In order to suffer without dwelling on our own affliction, we must think about a greater affliction and turn to the cross.” Wow! And so, friend, if you are questioning the love of God because of some deep disappointment or distressing trial, turn your eyes upon Jesus. He is the love of the Father in the flesh displayed. When Jesus hung on the cross, God was saying, “I love you,” and nothing can separate you from that. So, please pray with me, “Father God, if my hardships feel overwhelming today and I’m tempted to doubt your love, Lord, place me before your cross. In your name, Amen.”
© Joni and Friends