The summer before my Freshman year of high school, was filled with many ups and downs. It was easily one of most confusing and trying times of my life to that date. Some of the ups were during a road trip with my Dad’s side of the family to New York to witness the Baptism of my cousin who had long journey in the NICU and was now living at home and thriving.
Within days of this amazing and meaningful trip with family, came the lowest part of the summer, my grandparents, aunt and three cousins were in a serious car accident. We learned that day that my grandma had died in the car accident and my oldest cousin (ten years younger than me) had been seriously injured. My mind was racing, I was still processing the great trip with grandpa and grandma and now she has just died in an accident?
This is when Roman’s 8: 38-39 really became an important part of my life. Here is what Paul writes: “For I am convinced 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.” There were things that were really bad and I was really upset and confused by them. There were also things that I was thankful for, my cousin was going to make a full recovery, everyone else in the accident was safe.
But I was confused by all of these ups and downs, and this verse really acknowledged that life is full of these. God used this verse to help me see that life is full of various changes and challenges, but the love of God does not change. I learned that summer that God does not promise a life without hurts and pains, but God does promise to be with us and that he will never leave us alone in these changes and challenges.
This promise has stuck with me and helped me through so many life situations and continues to. You are loved, now and forever. Amen.
Jay Kiel
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