The Extremes of God’s Love

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

It has been almost two weeks since I put my baby girl on a plane knowing I wouldn’t see her for two months. As I’ve said previously, it’s not the two months that has affected me; it’s the fact that she is currently on the other side of the globe where I cannot protect her or run to her if she needs me.

Last week, I shared how God has comforted me by reminding me He is The Pilot in Command. It has given me such comfort to remember Cassie may appear to be in the pilot’s seat, but she is taking her commands from God, the pilot in command.

After a week of training in the Atlanta area, Cassie and her team headed to the Atlanta airport last Friday. They boarded a plane bound for Southeast Asia. It took about three days, and I found myself constantly checking the flight status. I would wake in the middle of the night, grab my phone, and see that she was over the Atlantic Ocean. I would dose off only to awaken a couple hours later and see she was over the western edge of Europe. I knew exactly when she would land and when she would take off again. For three days, I tracked her flights until I knew she had safely landed at her first destination of the summer.

And as I watched my baby girl move farther and farther from me, these words kept ringing through my mind:

No height nor depth nor anything else can ever separate us from the love of Christ. Romans 8:39 (NIV paraphrased)

Nothing can ever separate us from the love of Christ Jesus.

It doesn’t matter where I am, that love surrounds me and encompasses me.

That love is the same here in America as it is in Southeast Asia.

The God who is with me here is also with my daughter on the other side of the world.

His love is so great, so broad, so high, so deep that it spans the distance from me to her.

We may be separated by thousands of miles and oceans and mountains and valleys, but God’s love binds us together and keeps us close in our hearts and in our minds.

And if my heart aches while separated from her, can you imagine the heart of the Father when we walk away from Him? For there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for His friend (John 15:13) which is exactly what Christ Jesus did for us even before we were ready to have a relationship with Him (Romans 5:8).

I know God called Cassie to this trip. I know He is doing a work in her so He can do a work through her–and that is my prayer for her every moment of every day.

But I guess He also called me to this trip. He called me to let go of my most precious gift–my child–and entrust her to His care. He called me to put action to my words which is where our faith actually becomes faith. He is teaching me as I pull closer to Him, learning to trust Him a little more each day. He is using this experience to show me the depth of His love in new ways, to teach me old lessons in a new way.

I don’t know what the next few months hold, but I do know I will be so ready to see my girl and embrace her come August. I can’t wait to hear all of the amazing stories she has to share about God’s work in her and through her. I can’t wait to see the work He will do through her all because she chose to step out of her comfort zone and walk in obedience.

Keep my girl (and her mama) in your prayers!