Help!

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ 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.  – Romans 8:26-39

I was completely rattled. My hands were shaking. My blood pressure was spiking, I’m sure, and my pulse was racing. I was trying to lead a Bible study on ZOOM and we had some very bad actors who “Zoom Bombed” us with ugly and profane comments. I didn’t have control of the meeting at that time because I had handed off the host duties to someone else. She, however, knew just what to do. She ended the meeting. No more Zoom bombers. No more Bible study. But the jitters and racing pulse remained for some minutes afterward.

I needed help. I needed the help of the Holy Spirit. I needed his peace. I needed his power to focus on his words and promises. Truth be told I need these things at all times. It was just more obvious at that moment. Perhaps this was a reminder of two things:

1. We need God’s Holy Spirit at all times for peace, power to focus on his word and promises, and for faith to believe.
2. There are those who wish to undercut our faith and focus on God. There are those who would separate us from God’s love in Jesus Christ. There are those who are against us.

How precious it is to know that they cannot separate us from God’s love in Jesus Christ. Whatever disruptions and attacks we may experience they will not separate us from God’s love. That’s the one constant in all life. God’s love is never-changing. God’s love is never interrupted. God’s love is not shifting or dependant on anything we may experience.

We’re heading out for a family picnic soon. It’s a beautiful day. The sun is shining. The weather is wonderfully cool. We’ll be with family. It will likely be a wonderful day. Those good things do not remove me from either God’s love or from my need for his help. I’m thankful for both.