Blog

Encouragement in the Journey

03/17/2020 - By Pastor Todd Nathan

This morning I was reading Romans 8:35-39 and was reminded how secure our faith in Jesus Christ truly is. Despite what God allows to flow our lives, whether it be some sort of troubles, hardships, sickness, spiritual attacks or even discouragement, we can be confident that nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of Christ. Absolutely nothing. Not even COVID-19!

Take a moment and read Paul's words to the believers in Rome in Romans 8:35-39.

"35 Who (What) shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.

These words are written by Paul who was well acquainted with hardship and sufferings. Who had every opportunity to be discouraged and call it quits. Yet he didn't. He persevered and pressed on. He fully trusted the Lord despite his circumstances, and used hi circumstances as an opportunity to advance the gospel of hope. You may not see yourself as a "super-conqueror" (v37), like one of the Avengers, but according to Paul, you are! You are simply because you are a part of God's family and secure in your relationship with Him. You are a super-conqueror because God has given you everything you need to endure and stay hopeful and encouraged. And even if you find it difficult to pray, or your faith may be wavering, God has given you His Holy Spirit to remind you who you are (a child of God!) and to intercede on your behalf! (Romans 8:12-27)

How anchored are you in your faith? How confident are you that God is in full control despite what you see going on around you, or what you are personally experiencing? Do you believe that you are fully secure in Christ and that nothing, absolutely nothing, not even your present circumstances, could ever separate you from God's love? Be encouraged. Stay hopeful. Confidently trust God.

God is good!

With great love and concern for you all, and with the hope of the gospel that sustains and encourages us,
Pastor Todd (Psalm 46:10)