Nothing Can Separate

Not five days had passed since we began our journey, and already we had

seen trouble. My brother and I dragged our tired bodies down the road, our

dented swords hanging limply in their scabbards and our stomachs moaning

with hunger. I remembered how Supreme Agape told us that we would have

troublesmany of themand that the journey would be far from easy. Even so,

this particular hardship made me feel so defeated and inexpressibly weary.

Ren, my brother, placed his hand on my shoulder and whispered, Nothing can

separate, Jayla. It was our code of courage, our call to continue the

journey despite everything thrown at us. I must remember. The next day

dawned with clear blue skies, and my heart lifted as we continued on our

way. Ren was his usual jovial self, making jokes and attempting to bolster

my spirits from the troubles we had encountered. I didn’t know then that

late in the day it would be my turn to remind and encourage. There was

severe famine everywhere, and our reserves of food were gone. Large eyes in

the gaunt faces of those we passed haunted us. Ren was already practically

a giant for his age, which I teased him about incessantly. But the lack of

food was wearing on him most of all, and it broke my heart to see him so

weak. So, to cheer him up, I did what he couldn’t do, a wild dance of

absolute ridiculousness, and yelled, Nothing can separate! Hungry as Ren

was, he laughed at my antics. He must remember. Weeks later, I clung

tightly to the cliff high on the Great Mountain. Heights were never my

thing, and I honestly felt death would be preferable to continuing upward.

Ren’s arm was injured from a prior sword fight, and he was struggling just

as much as I was. Through labored breaths, I said, Supreme Agape told us

to cross the mountain, but I don’t know if we’re going to make it, Ren. I

tried to ignore the clouds swirling around my ankles. Just when we were

about to give in to complete despair, a warm, golden light surrounded us. A

voiceso pure and beautiful it brought tears to my eyessang over us:

Nothing can separate you from my love. I knew His voice. Supreme Agape.

We remembered. Savannah Coleman In Greek, the word “agape” means love

(the New Testament of the Bible was originally written in Greek). Why do

you think Jayla and Ren call God Supreme Agape? (Hint: read 1 John 4:16.)

Before Jesus went to the cross, He told His followers, Here on earth you

will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome

the world (John 16:33). As Christians, we can trust Jesus to be with us

until the day our journey endsand beyondbecause even death cannot

separate us from His love. Just as God raised Jesus from the grave, He will

raise us all on the last day, and those who put their trust in Jesus will

live eternally with Him, free from all suffering and sorrow. How can

remembering God’s unstoppable love for us give us hope in the midst of

hardships? We were never meant to journey through life alone. Once we’ve

put our trust in Jesus, we are part of His family (the church), and fellow

Christians are our brothers and sisters. Who has God brought alongside you

during this leg of your life journey? How can you encourage each other and

remind one another that nothing can separate us from Jesus’s love? (If no

one comes to mind, you can ask God to reveal trustworthy companions in His

good timing.) And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from

God’s love. Romans 8:38a (NLT)

Read Verses:

John 10:27-John 10:30; Romans 8:35-Romans 8:39