Neither death nor life . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

— Romans 8:38-39

My grandfather Ivan fought in World War II as a machine-gun operator. He was badly wounded in a battle. He survived, but for a long time it seemed as if his Christian faith did not.

He grew up as a Christian but claimed to have lost his faith after seeing the horrors of war. Yet toward the end of his life he began reading the Bible to his wife, my grandmother, who had become very sick. And he rediscovered God’s grace and found peace with Jesus.

Our passage today reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God that comes to us through his Son, Jesus Christ. Neither death nor life, nor supernatural ­powers, nothing in the present nor the future, not a single created thing—nothing can separate us from God’s love!

Many Christians who formally accept the teaching of God’s love may still have fears about losing God’s salvation and ­favor. But even in the midst of the most terrible struggles of life, we can be reassured that the Lord is with us. Gently he is holding us in his hand. When God loves us in Christ, he loves us forever.

Have you put your trust in God? Have you found his peace?

Father, we praise you for your unfailing love for us in Jesus Christ. With your Spirit make us lean on you fully as the Creator and Sustainer of our faith. Amen.