Can Separate Us from His love
I have a deep love for the ocean. Yes, it started out years ago… with my first trip to California and its sandy shores (as a three-year-old)! And the love for the ocean—specifically the Pacific Ocean—lodged in my heart then and continued to grow until now. Decades later, my heart still hurts when I am away from my special place.
We have a digital frame in our kitchen that plays both photos and videos, and it is my escape at times. I find myself brewing my coffee and watching videos and pictures from our family trips to our sweet spot. Can you imagine never being separated from the things, places, or people you love? My heart soars just thinking about the next time we get to visit our sweet California.
This morning I was thinking about one of the most authentic, fully me moments I had this past year, and immediately it sprang to heart and mind.
The day on Moonlight Beach.
My daughter, her boyfriend, and I traveled to California to check out a college near Newport Beach and to be reunited with some of the heart-friends they made on their mission trip last year through a church in Vista. Some of their dearest friends invited us to the beach—spectacular Moonlight Beach—for a day of surfing, hanging out, and California sun.
It was the most perfect day in my book.
It was September, so many of the summer crowds had simmered down, leaving mostly locals or very intentional tourists with plans (such as ourselves). The sun was high in the sky, the waves were big, bold, and beautiful, and the salty breeze gave its familiar kiss. After a good time of conversation and getting to know my daughter’s friend and her mom, it was time to hit the waves.
There is nothing like learning to wave-ride with friends who live in California. The daughter was a natural, showing Lydia and her boyfriend how to catch the waves and ride them out. I found myself doing the same with Ruthie—a dear friend of my heart. You know one of those people you meet and you just know you are going to be friends.
I caught a few waves and had a blast in the trying. But honestly, just being in the water—jumping around in this glorious ocean water, at a beach I hadn’t seen in all my visits to California, with new friends—well, it filled my heart to the brink. I found myself shouting things like, “God, You’re awesome!” and “God, I love You!” as I rode the waves and floated in the deep.
My heart, completely and genuinely His.
My heart at home.
Those are some of the memories I see flash by on our digital frame in the kitchen each morning as I make my coffee at our home in Colorado. The fire stove has been started to knock off the chill that comes first thing in the morning. Even though it has been a very mild winter so far, my heart and mind like to visit that special California spot—where my heart soared with the Lord, my daughter and her boyfriend, and new friends.
I love the verse in Romans 8:39:
“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.”
This is actually one of my favorite life verses. Is there any better news than the Lover of my soul, the Creator of the world, the Lord of lords and King of kings—always being with you and me? Nothing can ever separate us from His love. That is the most comforting statement on the planet to me. Nothing. Ever.
When I think of my favorite places, my favorite friends who live a ways away, and my family who has gone on before, I hate the fact that I am separated from them. Separation is such a serious, grievous thing. But God, in His mercy, says, I’ve got you covered.
No matter where you are.
No matter what is going on in your heart or mind.
No matter what challenges you face.
No matter what condition your heart is in—or even what we think of Him in the moment—nothing can separate us from Him and His love.
Nothing ever.
I’m sure you can think of some things you wish never came to an end or that you were never separated from…
A loved one.
A special place.
A season of life.
But the truth of the matter is this: God’s presence and love will never, ever leave us. The Word promises it, and it is true. Scripture reminds us again and again that we are held securely in His hand, that He will never leave or forsake us, and that even if we find ourselves on the far side of the sea, His hand will still guide us. (John 10:28–29; Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 139:7–10)
I don’t know what you may be facing today, but I do know that this side of heaven we do face grief, separation, and loss. This world is not our home, and our hearts surely know and feel that. Often it can be easy to keep our eyes down—focused on the hurt beside us and the hurt within us.
But friends, I encourage you to lift your eyes and fix them on the Lord Jesus, the Lover of our souls. No matter what we face, no matter what hurts have tried to lodge themselves into our hearts… He is the answer. He is enough. He is more than enough.
Even if every other avenue closes, He sees. He loves. He never leaves us. Sit with that for a moment. He is with you on your worst days, your best days, and the in-between days. There has never been a moment He has not been right there by your side.
Lord Jesus,
Your love is so deep, so pure, and so all-encompassing that we cannot fully understand it. It is too much for our finite minds. Yet You, in Your sovereignty, come down and make our hearts at home in You.
Some of us have said YES to this miraculous love. Others are still being gently drawn in by Your love and mercy. Open our eyes to Your constant, loving presence that NEVER EVER leaves us. When worries, trials, and challenges feel heavy, remind us that You have already overcome the world and that nothing—nothing at all—can separate us from Your unfailing love.
We take hope and comfort in that today. Thank You for Your constant presence and Your constant love. We want to keep drinking deeply from You and be filled to overflowing with Your Spirit and Your life. We entrust all that we have and all that we are to You, Lord and Lover of our souls.
Amen.
I’d love to hear about your most favorite spot—the place where you find yourself saying, “Good job, God,” and your heart feels full of His love.
Here are a few pictures from our recent trips to our sweet California.
Also, if it has been awhile since you read here’s some of my latest blog posts. They will encourage your heart!
Until next time,
Melanie Talevski 