People leave. Friends move away, spouses separate, coworkers get relocated, loved ones die. There are people I no longer speak to who, 10 years ago, I thought were going to be in my life forever. I’ve had my heart broken in situations that I thought were permanent but turned out to be temporary. I’ve witnessed deaths of people I thought were invincible. People leave. But God promised “I will never leave you nor forsake you”.* It’s funny how often we take the promises of God for granted. Who else can promise you that they will never leave you?
If you’re like me, you’ve seen The Color Purple at least 25 times. One of my favorite lines from that movie occurs when the young sisters, Celie & Nettie, are being dragged apart. As young Nettie is taken away, she reaches out to her sister proclaiming, “Nothing but death shall keep me from her.” In other words, “No matter what you do to keep us apart, I will find my way back to her!” God’s promise is that “Nothing, not even death, shall keep Me from you.” Paul writes “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, not height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”** Oh, what a promise! God promises that His love is everlasting.
Generally, we tend to think of His love comforting us in times of pain, supplying for us in times of need, and blessing us in times of faithfulness. But God’s love also remains in times of disobedience and times of anger as well. Who else can promise to stick around when you curse them out in anger? To love you unceasingly when you ignore them? To remain faithful when you cheat on them? I think of the many times I’ve cheated on God – with other people or with possessions. The times I put those people in front of Him. And He waited patiently for me, loving me in spite of. I think of the times I’ve yelled at God, demanding an explanation for the situation I was going through. And God understood my anger, continued to love me, and waited for me to calm down. I think of the times I’ve been disobedient and crawled back on my knees to God begging for forgiveness and God, with arms open wide, continued to love me. Oh what a promise God gives us when He states He’ll never leave or forsake us. I think of all the people who’ve left my life but God has remained a constant – even when I wasn’t consistent with Him. And I know when I cheat on God again, or curse at Him, or ignore Him that He’ll STILL love me and will STILL be with me – oh, what a promise!
*Hebrews 13:5b
**Romans 8:38-39
Mark 5:34: He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
haleluiah! thank God for His grace and mercy. forever and ever.
ReplyDeletenicely written, beth.
Beth Ann - I had to read the blog out loud to Isaac and he said "it's beautiful. She is a writer for sure!" That is a wonderful promise and just like you said, you tend to take the simple promises for granted, but it really is something to stop & say "OH" at! Thank you God for your everlasting, unstopping love!!!
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