April 1
Unshakable
Love
"I am absolutely sure that not even death or life can separate us from God’s love.
Not even angels or demons, the present or the future, or any powers can separate us.
Not even the highest places or the lowest, or anything else in all creation can separate us.
Nothing at all can ever separate us from God’s love.
That’s because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done."
Romans 8:38-39 (NIrV)
Jason stared at the text message on his phone. It was short but devastating. His Uncle Peter, once a mentor and father figure, had written: "Jason, I can’t support your decision to follow Jesus. You’ve chosen a path I cannot walk with you. Please don’t contact me anymore."
Jason’s heart felt like it had been ripped in two. Uncle Peter had always been the strong, guiding presence in his life. When Jason’s parents were too busy or distant, Peter had been there—teaching him how to play pool, laughing with him at the fun fair, and treating him to ice cream at the beach. But now, because of his faith, that relationship was gone.
Jason replayed one of the their last conversation in his mind. He had shared his excitement about giving his life to Christ, explaining how the decision had brought him peace and purpose. But Peter had been skeptical, even angry. “I raised you to think for yourself,” Peter had said. “And now you’re just blindly following a religion? I thought you were smarter than that.”
Days turned into weeks, and the silence from his uncle was deafening. Jason tried reaching out, apologizing for any offense he had caused, but the door remained closed. One evening, sitting alone in his small apartment, Jason opened his Bible to Romans 8:38-39. The words jumped off the page: “Nothing at all can ever separate us from God’s love.”
Jason realized that while Uncle Peter’s rejection hurt deeply, it didn’t change his identity in Christ. God’s love was steadfast, unchanging, and unconditional. Jason whispered a prayer through his tears: “Lord, I don’t understand why this is happening, but I trust Your love will sustain me. Help me to forgive Uncle Peter and to find peace in You.”
A few months later, Jason joined a small group at his church. There, he shared his story and found comfort in the support of others who had faced similar challenges. One member, an older man named Roger, put a hand on Jason’s shoulder and said, “Sometimes the people we love can’t understand our faith, but remember, you’re never alone. God is with you, and so are we.”
Jason’s heart began to heal. Though the pain of losing Uncle Peter lingered, he found strength in knowing that God’s love would never fail him. He continued to pray for his uncle, asking God to soften his heart. While he didn’t know if reconciliation would ever come, Jason clung to the truth that God’s love was enough to carry him through any trial.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unshakable love that holds us together even when human relationships falter.
Help us to trust in Your presence when we feel rejected or alone.
Teach us to forgive, even when it’s hard, and to find peace in knowing we are deeply loved by You.
We lift up those who struggle to accept our faith, asking that You open their hearts to Your truth.
May we always reflect Your grace and love, no matter the circumstances.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
