Finding Our Way Back To God
Nothing can separate us from the love of God
It’s not uncommon for believers to make mistakes, take wrong turns, or make bad choices that can potentially spiral our lives out of control. When this happens we generally try to hide the extent of our condition from others and maybe even ourselves. We try to minimize the damage, cover up the dirt, and live like everything is all right. We hope tomorrow will be better even though we know we haven’t taken the necessary steps or sought the help we need for tomorrow to be any different. At this point, we may feel separated from God and estranged from ourselves. Our moral compass has been compromised and our commitment to God, self, and others has been broken.
I’m not painting a picture of a bad person or someone beyond help. I’m painting a picture of a person who can be encouraged and uplifted by knowing there is a pathway forward through the help always available through Christ.
Focus Scripture:
Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?... For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35, 38–39 AMP)
It can be difficult to understand the unconditional nature of God’s love toward us because we compare God’s love for us to what we’ve experienced from others or extended to others. This love is most commonly given with the intent to be reciprocated in a like manner, and when that doesn’t happen, the relationship suffers damage and often disconnection. But scripture clearly communicates that God does not love as we do. God does not love with the expectation of getting something from us in return; on the contrary, God loves with the intent to give something to us that will change our lives forever. John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This scripture, along with our daily focus scripture, reminds us that we did nothing to earn or sustain God’s love, nor can we do anything to separate ourselves from it. God’s love for us is based on His choice, not our actions. Therefore, nothing can separate us from the love of God, including the things we did or continue to do that make us feel bad or unlovable. God knew we would make mistakes before the foundation of the world, yet He chose to love us anyway. However, God’s love does not give us permission to stay in our sin; instead, it provides us with the grace, mercy, and strength we need to find our way back to Him.
Prayer
Dear God, I thank you that nothing can separate me from your love. Thank you for continuing to love me despite my mistakes and choices contrary to your Word and will for my life. I thank you for the comfort of knowing that you haven’t left me or given up on me and that you are always available to help me find my way back to you.