I love when I’m reading something that I’ve had stored in my heart for many years, but it somehow means something different . . . something more . . . than it did before. I believe that’s why the Bible is also called the Living Word. It changes but without changing. In a room of 10,000 people, we can read the same scripture but it speak to us in such different ways.
Today, I was reading Romans 8:38-39.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. –NLT
This is scripture I’ve spoken so many times before, but today God placed a “picture,” so to speak, in my head as I read today. I saw a young girl who had done so many things in her life and who had so many things done to her – some of those things are the darkest of dark things. I saw her, helpless and defeated, standing at the edge of land that was completely void of everything except her. There were no trees, grass, animals, or other people; there was no life at all. Over the edge was nothing. It dropped into an abyss of darkness. But that’s not what the girl was looking at. She was looking far across that abyss where there was land with sun shining and full of trees and birds and . . . life. It was the exact opposite of where she was standing.
I could hear her thoughts: “How did I get way over here? Look at how far it is. There’s no way to get over there. It’s impossible. I have nothing anymore, and there is no way for me to get from here to there. It’s hopeless. I have nothing to live for. I have no one.”
Then she dropped to the ground, folded her knees, and sobbed in defeat. I could feel the defeat from this girl.
Have you found yourself feeling this type of desperation?
Sweet friend, hear me when I say this. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. It doesn’t matter what has been done to you. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve taken steps backward. It doesn’t matter how far away you’ve gone.
Scripture says that nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate you from God’s love. NOTHING. It says that not even angels or demons can put separation between you and God’s love.
The enemy will do everything in his power to place an abyss between you and God, but there’s one thing you have to remember. The enemy has no power over God or his children. God’s power far surpasses that of the enemy’s, and there’s always hope.
You see, I haven’t told you the rest of this vision. While the girl was sobbing, she also prayed for God to help her. She cried out, “God if there’s any possibility you still love me even just a little, please help me.”
Then she looked up. There was something she didn’t notice before, and when she wiped away her tears, she could see more clearly. Between where she stood and the land across the abyss was ground that was almost transparent, and it surrounded the desolate land where she stood. The dark abyss she had seen before was just a facade provided by the enemy. It was there to make her believe God’s love was so far away and impossible to receive. All she had to do was take a step, scary as that step may have been, and she was walking above that darkness and over to the land God had created for her.
He never intended for her to be in that darkness, but she found herself there. The enemy told her there was no way to return, but God told her there was. God told her his love was still as strong as it had ever been, and none of those things from her past could ever take that love away.
Even better, when she took that first step, she realized her perception had been off and the enemy somehow had created an illusion making it appear the land was so distant. It just took her a few steps, and both of her feet were standing on the fertile land. It was never as far as it had appeared.
Friend, if you feel something has separated you from the love God has for you, I urge you to cry out to him for help. Read this scripture and hear God’s voice telling you those thoughts are lies. They do not line up with his word. Remind yourself what his word says – NOTHING in all of heaven or earth, NO ONE and NOTHING can ever separate you from his love. The separation is a façade the enemy has placed in front of you so you will believe you can’t be one with Christ. The enemy wants nothing more than to have you feel hopeless and alone because when you’re in that place, you won’t be fulfilling God’s call on your life.
Take that step forward. You’ll quickly realize you aren’t as far as you thought. You’ll find that with God on your side, it doesn’t matter who is against you. It’s just a few steps, and you’ll feel God’s love flooding over you.
Misty Fitch | Fearfully Made 