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“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor 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.” Romans 8:38-39

Have you ever had a best friend—do you have one now? Someone who you’d adamantly claim is your co-pea in a pod, the cheese to your macaroni, a shelter in your storms. You’re inseparable. There’s an authenticity and transparency that simply allows you to be you—to share your deepest dreams and darkest flaws, to hold mirrors up to one another for soul-level betterment. Besties are the best, aren’t they? Until they’re not.

Sometimes there’s a drift—imperceptible at first, until suddenly you realize that person’s presence isn’t as ubiquitous in your day-to-day world. Other times it may be a geographical move. Sure, texts, calls, and even FaceTime are great…but it’s not the same, and the time/space divide grows, slowly, but surely. And sometimes, a wedge is thrown between you. It could initiate from one or the other of you (because of a thoughtless action, a cutting word, even a colossal misunderstanding). But, often, it’s discord brought on by the fallenness of the flesh, the darkness of the world, and the nefarious intent of the enemy. That deep, abiding relationship you once thought to be immovable and unbreakable is suddenly (or slowly) gone.

Whether you once had a BFF and now you don’t, or if you’re in a season of multiple besties (spouse-bestie, work-bestie, church-bestie, from-high-school-bestie), or if you’re not sure you’ve ever had that depth of relationship in your life, there is amazing news! Regardless of your circle(s) of friends or even marital status, you never have to be alone, isolated as easy prey for the world and its ruler (Satan).

When we surrender to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior by faith, we are given a perpetual BFF—the Holy Spirit living in us (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16)! By making peace with God through salvation, we have the peace of God, the surety that we can walk through every storm with the Helper, Counselor, Truth-revealer. The Apostle Paul sums it up in his letter to the Romans (8:31): “If God is for us, who can be against us?” And in verse 35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” And Paul had been through some serious stuff (which he summarizes in the following verses): tribulation distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword. But he—and we—are more than conquerors through God who loves us!

As a Christian, there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. And just to drive the point home to his readers, Paul writes a pretty comprehensive list of all the things that cannot throw a wedge between us and God’s love: death (we’re secure in our salvation); life (life happens in this fallen world, but none of it is “too much”); angels or demons (we have an enemy who absolutely hates us, but he’s been defeated); rulers (we’re citizens of heaven, not of this world); the present or the future (we can be anxious for nothing and have peace that passes understanding); height nor depth (from asteroids to ants). And just in case you find any excuse loophole in all that, Paul wraps it up with, “anything else in all creation.”

The only true BFF, One who will never leave you or forsake you or decide to move on for any reason, is God. And He is an amazing package deal in terms of relationships! We get God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (I know, the Trinity is a mind-numbing concept, but let’s just rest in the glory of our three-Person-bestie!) While a friend—or parent or spouse—may forsake us, we have Someone who will stick with us through it all. As children of God, co-heirs with Christ, Holy Spirit-indwelled, and friends of Jesus, we are inseparable from the love of God.

“Lord, if someone is reading this who is experiencing intense loneliness and isolation, reveal to them the truth: In Christ Jesus, they are inseparable from God’s love for them—never battling through this world alone. May they accept this love through Jesus right now.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life