Mtr Kelli Joyce

“I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Dear Friends in Christ,

I remember learning these verses at summer camp as a child. To help us memorize them, the counselors came up with a tune for us to sing the words to, and I truly believe that because of that little scripture-song, I’ll remember these words for the rest of my life.

Of course, the other reason I feel sure I’ll never forget this passage is because I have need of it so often. I can name specific occasions in my life when it felt like the only thing getting me through was Paul’s assurance that there is nothing, nothing, nothing that has the power to separate us from the love of God in Christ. Paul lists a number of things that his readers might reasonably think could separate them from God’s love. We could, of course, add our own. “I am persuaded that neither fires nor pandemics nor political turmoil nor loneliness nor oppression shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

There is nothing in existence that is stronger than God’s love for creation, and for us humans, created in God’s own image. Not sin. Not death. Not even our own refusals to embrace the love we’re offered. Nothing can stop God’s love from pouring out unceasingly toward us, because God is love. God will always keep working for the good of the world, because that is God’s very nature.

No matter what.

In peace,
Mtr Kelli