December 28, 2021 “You Are So Loved”

It seems to me that those on whom we can rely for comfort and strength in anxious times can include those who are in other faith communities than my own, as well as those who are not in any faith community. If I remember to pay attention, I can sense God's love through many people of faith and those without any faith, through whom God still speaks. All major religions support the idea of loving God and each other and humanists end up loving others while coming from a different theological perspective. I've always believed there is no limit to how and through whom God can speak, and for that I am grateful.

I can't imagine ever being totally unafraid of loss, exile and separation. We all feel anxiety on some level on occasion. The challenge is to manage our anxiety, our fears. Sometimes we can't do that alone. At those times, we can reach out to our sisters and brothers through whom God expresses God's love for us.

These verses are so comforting. No matter what, nothing can “separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord” (verse 39b).

I gave some extra thought to the question posed by the devotional author: “What are you afraid of?” I thought of my top personal answer, and it does fall into the categories of the themes she mentioned–”we’re afraid of loss, exile, and separation.” How about your personal answer?

The verses for today’s entry do bring me comfort. I wonder, then, with the promise of these verses, why am I still afraid?