Romans 8:26-39 (NRSV)
Read Romans 8:26-39 on biblegateway.com
Verse 26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. Verse 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Verse 28We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Verse 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. Verse 30And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Verse 31What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Verse 32He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Verse 33Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Verse 34Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Verse 35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Verse 36As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." Verse 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Verse 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, Verse 39nor 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.
Devotion
"...when evening falls so hard, I will comfort you."
Bridge Over Troubled Water, Paul Simon
I'm pretty certain that Paul Simon wasn't talking about God's activity in "Bridge Over Troubled Water." But I think it runs parallel to Paul's thinking of God's activity in the Spirit in times of distress: "Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not pray as we ought." In times of distress, grief, anger or turmoil, it can be difficult to find words to pray. Paul illustrates that even in these times, God searches our hearts and prays for us. It is when evening falls, that we find comfort.
One of the most troubling things I find is that the furthest we feel from God is when God seems to be doing God's best work on our behalf. Luther had similar thoughts in his Heidelberg Disputation. "This is clear: He who does not know Christ does not know God hidden in suffering." In immediate times of distress, the presence of God may not always be clear. We gaze into the shadows, looking for some sense of God's comfort, only to find loss and pain. But the shadows are only there because the light is right in front of us. When evening falls, you will be comforted by the grace of God in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Creator of all things, You search our hearts and pray for us even when have not words to speak. Give us comfort in all our times of loss, suffering and pain. Assure of Your presence when we feel most alone. Amen.