Convinced
By Adele M. Gill
“For I am convinced that
neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the
future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else
in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is
in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
I am convinced that the love that God has for you and
me is so far reaching, so extraordinary, so all-powerful, so merciful, that it
is unconditional and unmatched. Despite what the world around us tells us, it
is not based on what we have, what we do for a living, what we own, who we know…God’s
love is freely given and for all of humanity, not just the faithful, as some
may suggest. When we understand God’s love for us in a personal way, we also
know, on some level, that ‘the ball is in our court’ so to speak. As scripture
tells us:
“We love because he first loved us.” I
John 4:19
As with any relationship, we decide what comes next, through
our own God-given free-will, as to whether we move closer to Him, or turn away.
In a sense, we can only depend on the scripture above, and similar ones like
it, to enlighten us about God’s unconditional, unmatched love. God IS love. Once
we try to realize the full extent of His love, we soon realize it is beyond our
human comprehension because He loves us like no other. For even when we sin and
walk away from Him, nothing can separate
us from the love that God has for all of us. When you let the concept of
God’s love for you really fully settle into your being, you may very well weep
for joy!
Though no one has actually seen the face of God, we have
seen Him through His Only Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for you and
for me. Both God and man, Jesus suffered unmercifully
on our behalf, as he bore our sins on the cross, thus helping to obtain for
those who believe in Him eternal life. Anyone who knows Jesus Christ knows God,
as the two are one, through the power of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy
Spirit.
Weep
for Joy
Understanding God’s timeless love naturally leads us
to recognize that our strength comes from and through Him, even and especially in
times of adversity and weakness. We are fully undeserving of this love—which is
how we know we have been given God’s grace. Grace is ‘undeserved merit,’ that
only He can provide. It is God’s gift to us when we are healed of infirmity, daily
and after many years, against all odds, for the asking. Grace is ours when He
provides generously and mercifully for our every need: Physically, emotionally,
mentally, socially, and spiritually—even financially, as we grow in our trust in
Him.
Joy
is the Byproduct of Gratitude
This is where gratitude comes in…When you are grateful
to God for the abundant blessings He has bestowed on you each day, joy is the
byproduct of that gratitude. There is no quicker way to true, lasting happiness,
peace and joy, than by expressing gratitude to God through heartfelt prayer.
When you realize that everything you have, and everything you are, every talent
and every treasure you possess comes from Him, your life changes forever. And
it becomes easier and easier to try to depend on Him in every circumstance. It
is at that point that you may begin to place your focus, gratitude, and trust
in Almighty God, and depend on Him daily to fill all your needs. Joy and peace
will be yours, as you begin to place your trust in Him.
As I said, I am convinced that the love that God has
for you and me is so far reaching, so extraordinary, so all-powerful, so
merciful, that it is unconditional and unmatched. Truly, I am convinced that
this scripture is good and right and true:
“For I am convinced that
neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the
future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else
in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is
in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
©
Copyright 2019 | Adele M. Gill
Adele
M. Gill, BSN, RN, CPC is the author of 3 inspirational books including ‘From
Broken to Blest: Embracing the Healing that Awaits You,’ written with Dr.
Verna Benner Carson. From
Broken to Blest is now available on Amazon, and at Barnes at Noble, in
print, Nook, and
Kindle versions.
