I began my junior year of high school at a new school. Looking back, I am amazed I navigated this change so well.
I knew one person but we had only one class together. Everyone else knew each other and I felt like a total outsider. The feelings of isolation were real and I wondered why I told my parents that I was good with this move.
There were many obstacles to friendships and feelings of insecurity which could have prevented a great finish to my high school experience. Those obstacles were conquered by kind people who let me into their life, coaches and teachers who invested in me, and a sense of confidence that came from finding my place.
I remember graduating high school, thinking, “man, I’m so glad all of that drama, challenge, and nonsense is in the past. Good thing adulthood isn’t like high school.” Silly Scott, how little did he know!
Many of the battles we fought in high school continue into adulthood.
-Insecurity and isolation
-Relational conflict over petty things
-Betrayal and fake people
-Searching for purpose and place in the world
-Cliques and feeling like an outsider
As I think back on the battles I faced in high school and the ones I’ve faced as an adult, I can see how my relationships with people impacted my relationship with God. I’ve often projected my hang-ups with people onto God. I’ve let my struggles weaken my faith in God’s power.
Yet, in those moments of weakness, I’ve discovered a powerful truth. God is not a friend like ones we have in this world. God does not love us with a fickle or fake love. His love for you and me is a protecting and conquering force in our lives, not a wounding or weak force.
In Romans 8:31-39, Paul describes this love with words that have become a beloved balm to our weary and broken hearts.
“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, ‘For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.’) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
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.”
Did you feel your spirit lift and your heart rise as you read those words? God conquers that which stands between us and enduring salvation through His son, Jesus Christ.
I want to encourage you to apply the truth of Romans 8:31-39 to your current obstacles and strengthen your confidence in God’s role as your Protector and Conqueror.
Do you feel accused today? Whether it’s the words of another person or that inner critic which points out our weaknesses, accusation seeks to convince us that what we lack keeps us from all that God has for us. When you hear the voice of accusation rising, remember the words of Romans 8:33. “Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.”
Struggling with condemnation? When our memory recalls our mistakes and failures, the voice of our enemy misleads us into thinking that we are a mistake and failure is our identity. Our Conqueror and Protector invites us to trust in His truth from Romans 8:34. “ Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”
Facing a long season of adversity? Amidst an unending line of trouble, setbacks, and pain, we surrender to despair, even doubting God’s goodness and love for us. The Apostle Paul knew these experiences too and spoke to them in Romans 8:36-37. “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?...No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”
Overcome by fears or worries about the future? After a recent breaking news event, I spent hours over a weekend doom-scrolling social media. This experience left me anxious. As I turned to God and sought the peace I didn’t find in my scrolling, my mind recalled the promise of Romans 8:38.
In his song, “Nail-Scarred Hands,” Dante Bowe sings about our God who conquers and protects us from whatever life throws our way.
This month’s Air1 theme is God is our Protector and Conqueror. This truth is not just what God does - this is who God is! There is no one like our God and nothing can separate us from Him. Nothing can touch our salvation in Him. He is greater than any obstacle in the way of our union with Him.
And for that, I am eternally grateful!
Scott Savage is a pastor and a writer who helps you laugh, challenges you to think, and invites you to grow. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona. Scott is married to Dani and they are the parents of three “little savages.” He helps hurting people forgive others through his Free to Forgive course and you can read more of his writing at scottsavagelive.com.
