Romans 8

The inevitable happened today. We knew it was coming; it was obvious from the behaviors. You still don't want to believe it until it happens, though. But in a way, we were prepared. And we can choose to look at it in two different ways.

We could choose to feel overwhelmed, angry, shocked, devastated, and in despair. Or we could choose to see the good in the situation, and look forward with hopeful (if not a little anxious) hearts. We choose the latter.

Greg was let go from Farmers after 6 years and 6 months. He was summoned to the office yesterday, and when he walked in this morning, was handed a memo of termination. That's that. No warning whatsoever. Pretty sad that a company would treat people like that, but not at all surprising, really. To grind the dirt into the wound, they escorted him home, and took his phone, computer, printer, and car back with them. Nice, huh? Honestly, it's a relief. That place was like Nazi Germany. We are glad to get out. It's been a source of stress for our family and marriage for the last three years or so. Not a family-friendly company. Not a friendly company at all.

So what will we do? We have many options. MANY. And nothing is urgent. It takes time to hear God's direction and follow His will. We are listening.

This morning when I got the call from Greg, I was so upset I cried in the middle of the toy section at Walmart. I put all the groceries back, (except for green grapes-- Caleb insisted), then I came home and picked up my Bible. The Lord led me to Romans 8. There is a subtitle in my NIV Bible that says "Future Glory." It totally fits my current situation. What does my future hold? Glory. Here's what the Word says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (vs 18) Hear that? All the worrying about tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, IT'S NOT WORTH IT!!! This is nothing compared to what we will see in the future. In the meantime, we know that God provides for His people. For now, we do not really know what to pray for, but "the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." (vs 26) I love that.. it means, the Spirit's got our backs on this!

And a closing thought, is really just straight scripture from later in the chapter. vs 31-39. If we have the love of God in Christ, what else do we need? NOTHING can take away my Jesus, and I can take comfort in that.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He didn't even spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all —how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died— more than that, who was raised to life— is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You can take the car, the phone, the computer, the income. But you can't take away the love of MY savior. You can take that to the bank, my friends.