Overcoming Obstacles

Romans 8:35-37 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (NRSV)

I’m pretty sure that we’re all across the theory that, handled well, responded to well, suffering becomes a powerful force in shaping our character for good. But when it comes to our own suffering, the theory and the practice couldn’t be farther apart.

The problem with the theory is that it’s rational. It lives in your mind, whilst suffering attacks your emotions, your heart. That’s why we struggle to apply what we believe to be true by faith amidst our suffering.

Many times in life we have to overcome obstacles – stains upon our soul deep within and assaults that come from out there somewhere.

Have you noticed how alone you feel during that process of overcoming? Doubt creeps in, others don’t understand what you’re going through, and you feel powerless.

What if I told you that right in that place you’re experiencing one of the greatest opportunities that God will ever hand you?

Romans 8:35-37 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (NRSV)

The Apostle Paul was experiencing unimaginable suffering, his life constantly under threat, as he wrote those words. Can you imagine you writing that in his situation? But he did – because it was in that place that he discovered that nothing – nothing! – could separate him from the love of Christ. He discovered in his own experience that … in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.