Out of the Jaws of Defeat...

“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).

Whether we’re facing the mightiest challenges of life or not—from the flesh, the world or the devil—Romans 8 is always a place to come to know afresh the power and love, and indeed the powerful love, in Christ our Lord.

Many times in life we succumb to the wiles of destiny, brought as it were to a precipice... decision time.

What to do with this problem that hems me in so much. Sick and tired of being sick and tired; tired of the torment; tired of the same tired results...

Well, it remains always in the power of God to change. Today “is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it,” says Psalm 118:24 (NIV).

Today offers a fresh opportunity to fight our way out of the doldrums, to arrest the curse. Today we can seek help, guidance and support—we can seek the Spirit and those aiding and abetting.

Nothing can keep us from the redemptive love of God; this love that scoops us from the dirty floor of life time and again, dependent only on our willing attitudes—that ‘something’ for God to work with.

We all have our repetitive troubles and he knows all too well the dirtiest of them—and not a condemning thought does the Spirit of God have for those who love him. He is our Comforter and he wants to lift us out of our mire, today. He died on a cross in the ultimate expression of his saving love—a love that stands timeless and pure; a love with no shadow.

The key word in Romans 8:38-39 is “separate,” for nothing can. Nothing can get in the way of our standing with God now.

And this is victory knowing that we do not ever stand condemned of God, though Satan often throws that lie at us to put us off course. Our love for God—no matter our performance as human beings—stands as the only warrantable testimony God’s interested in. Satan can try as he likes, and the world, and the flesh; but, if we stand on the promise of God herein, we alone and instantly, with our God, break through the lies into this wonderful and resplendent truth.

We stand on holy ground.

In our defeats we’re already victorious through him—out of the jaws of our own individual defeat comes vision of holy reprisal—forgiveness and grace and power for a New Day. We can overcome through the power of God. We have overcome through the love of God. He has overcome for us.

© 2010 S. J. Wickham.