Nothing can separate us from His love. Nothing.
Death begs to differ. Disease and pain try to write a different story. The troubles in this world whisper hopelessness.
Loss. Division. Fracture. All attempting to question or deny His love, compassion, and care.
And yet. We dare to hope. Because of our Savior.
He writes the true story.
Death
This past week the phone rings. News that a friend of ours has died. Suddenly. So unexpected.
We sit in shock. Grief. How can this be?
Memories come to mind. In one, we sit in a Delhi living room. And she shares passionately about the people she loves. Helping us understand their worldview. What they believe. How they see eternity.
Ways she’s seen the Lord at work.
Loss
She lived her life for the sake of the gospel. Vibrant, determined, and strategic. Devoted to her King.
Now she’s gone. So quickly. We feel the loss. Ache for her family and friends.
Yet. Even in this sorrow. We dare to hope. For nothing separates our friend from the love of her Lord. Nothing.
Comfort
Years ago, in the midst of deep personal grief, I truly heard Romans 8:35-39 for the first time. It was part of a steady river of His truth. Helping me navigate the unknown. The death of my 11-year-old sister. I was 14.
Verses like these comforted as I struggled with honest questions. They led a teenager through sorrow that kept showing up. At unexpected times and places.
Scripture trained my eyes on the true story. Hope.
Romans 8
Today I turn again to all that is fresh and new in Romans 8. Relevant everyday as we walk by faith. With hope.
In remembrance of our friend, I read it aloud.
35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine
or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written:
Because of you
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted 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 persuaded
that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor rulers,
nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing
will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39 CSB
Dare to hope
Neither. Nor. Nothing. Nothing can separate us from His love.
Neither death nor life.
So we dare to hope. In the face of death, disease, and loss. We declare the true story.
Great is His faithfulness.
What about you?
How has the Lord reminded you of our hope in times of personal loss or troubles? Which Scriptures come to mind?
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13 replies on “Dare to hope”
Susan, you Love and write to the heart of it!!! I thank God for you!!
Thank you, friend. You know sorrow…and HOPE.
Years ago (decades actually) a dear godly lady sent me an email with 2 Corinthians 9:8 as an encouragement. I looked up to her and knew the decades that she had served God in multiple places, so I immediately found this verse and have kept it close. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” His Grace – His Provision – His Good Work – not my strength or goodness or hard work.
I believe it was Amy Carmichael who commented on that verse: “All means ALL.” What a rich provision and assurance. Thank you for sharing, sister.
During this time I’ve thought about I Thes 4:13 about how we grieve with hope. Several of our friends have had friends/relatives die and then I heard about KB, but even with how much of a shock that was, I knew that we would meet again someday and she is with Jesus. My friends here grieve without hope. Praying they will seek Him and find Him.
Yes, heartbreaking to see this. Thank you for sharing your experience…a call to pray!
Thank you Susan for sharing your gift of words that draws us back to the One who holds us close. I was so sorry to read about your friend last week.
Thank you, friend. Grace to you in these days.
Thank you My friend for this !! K’ sudden passing was such a shock and we cling to precious memories of our times together as well as these scriptures . We have had several unexpected to us deaths as of late so this was so needed for us . Love y’all
Love y’all too. Grace to you, friends.
Thank you again for sharing. Such a shock. But times like this send us back to TRUTH. Praying for you and others who worked so closely with her.
Thank you, sister. We had a special time of remembrance today with her family. The Lord’s name was lifted high.
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