“…Nothing can separate us from the love of God…” Romans 8: 39

What an extraordinary declaration given our human experience! We so often say and do things in our relationships that cause painful separations and create huge distances between us. We expend so much energy trying to apologize and reconcile. We struggle painfully, trying to hold together the threads of our worn, torn love that grows increasing more frail from its constant wounding. The challenge of God’s Word today is in believing that there is one relationship in your life that can never be worn down, a relationship of love that has no limits to its welcome, its acceptance and its forgiveness. What difference would it make to your life, and to your own self-perception, to believe in God’s unconditional commitment to love you? Would it cause you to re-consider the worth of your own being? Would it enable you to let go into God? Would it empower you to love as you have been loved?

Pause now and reflect on this. Close your eyes and gently place your hand on your heart. Repeat the following words, over and over, slowly and quietly, “Nothing can separate me from the love of God”. As you do so, be aware of whatever doubts or disturbances these words stir in you. Note the conscious objections your mind or heart raise to this declaration. Write them down, journal about them… do whatever it takes to name them and then hand them over to God. When you have done so, light a candle and hold it close to you and let the warmth of its flame remind you of God’s unconditional love for you. Allow yourself to rest in the reassurance of this.

Nothing can separate me from God’s love for me.