For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Into the Text
Lament, as we’ve learned, is a practice. It is a means of expressing our hearts to God in seasons of sorrow and loss. Often, these seasons can seem so long, dark, or heavy that we feel we may never make it through.
Paul’s words remind us that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from God’s love. Regardless of how we feel and what is happening around us, His love never changes. He never changes.
The practice of lament includes expressing our trust in God. We can express this trust by simply repeating Scripture as we cling to what is true, rather than what we feel. Romans 8:38–39 records Paul’s own declaration of faith. He shares with his readers that he is convinced that nothing can separate him from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
At the time Paul wrote the letter to the Romans, he had experienced much hardship for the cause of Christ. When we remember Paul’s experiences, we can see how true his claim is in verses 38–39. Nothing he, nor anyone else, had experienced could separate him from the love of God.
When we arm ourselves with truth, we can proclaim our trust in God as we lament in these difficult seasons. Without believing that our God is for us, the pain can be debilitating. But when we are convinced that nothing can separate us from His love, our lament becomes praise. Our declarations of trust bring glory to God, no matter how dark or desperate our circumstances may be.
Prayer
God, you are faithful and true. Even through the ground around me feels weak and unsteady, I know that you are sure. Help me to turn to you in the hard but also to praise you through it all. Amen.