“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
Romans 8: 35
Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
God loves us. He sent His Son to earth to save us. Christ gave His life as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. God chose us and made us His children, joint heirs with Christ (v. 17). He allows us to become like Christ and lead us into His glory (v. 29-30). Being loved by God does not mean we do not have to suffer. Some of God’s children live in difficult conditions or are seriously ill. Others suffer from not having a spouse or children. Or because of conflicts within the couple or family.
We also experience spiritual suffering. We suffer, for example, to see so many people drifting away from God. We are worried about the future of our congregation and Church. Paul reassures us that even the greatest misfortunes cannot separate us from God’s love.
God’s love is to give us eternal life. We cannot measure it by the conditions of our lives on earth. Being the beloved Son of the Father (Mk 1: 11) did not prevent Jesus Christ from suffering. Paul knew He was loved by Christ despite all the tribulations he experienced (2 Cor 11: 23–33). We do not know why God allows some to be sorely tested while others are spared. What is certain is that their misfortune is not the result of a lack of faith (Jn 9: 1–3). The Epistle to the Hebrews lists the Old Testament role models who, thanks to their faith, were able to conquer kingdoms, close the jaws of lions and heal from disease. But he also points out that others, also believers, were persecuted, tortured and killed (Heb 11: 32–39). We cannot understand God’s actions, but we believe in His love. He wants to deliver us once and for all from evil by leading us into His kingdom. God is greater than all, and the forces of evil cannot prevent Him from giving us eternal life (Jn 10:
28–29).
God shows us His love even at the height of our distress. He always knows how to comfort and help us. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, we can experience His nearness in prayer, preaching, Holy Communion and fellowship.
He provides us with the strength we need to overcome our trials (1 Cor 10: 13). Our salvation does not depend on the circumstances we face, but on our determination to remain faithful to Him. Jesus wants us to be where He is (Jn 17: 24). We want that too. That is why we pray, in good times and bad: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done. Deliver us from the evil one.”
In affliction, we can have bouts of weakness. But rest assured: Jesus Christ understands us. He Himself experienced fear and anguish in Gethsemane (Mk 14: 33–34). He did not reproach Peter for having reacted badly in his time of trial. The Lord does not count our sins; He measures our love. The trials we face must not make us forget our mission. Jesus sent us into the world to bear witness to His love. Our faithfulness to Christ and our trust in Him in difficult times are far more effective testimonies than speeches. And it is through our concern that the afflicted can discover God’s love for them.
God’s love is to give us eternal life. Our sufferings are no obstacle to our salvation. God sustains us in affliction. In times of trial, we remain firmly committed to God and bear witness to His love.