What a week

It started with me being cursed out by a drunk nun. Neither my beautiful children nor the fact that I'm part Irish could stop the stream of expletives spewing from her mouth. I had to laugh. I mean who expects to encounter a vodka-filled nun? Of course, it was St. Patrick's Day. Still ... In other news, the kids are on their second week of nap-strike. I'm way behind on all my writing projects, haven't been sleeping at night and completely messed up the fundraiser for my daughter's school. What a week.

Romans may be my favorite book of the Bible. I favor different parts of Scripture at different times, but Romans is my constant. I can always find something there to encourage or challenge me. This week was no exception.

Chapter 8 holds a bucket of gems! "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (v. 1) "God causes all things to work together for them that love the Lord." (v. 28) "Nothing can separate us from the love of God." (v. 38-39) "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (v. 31) It talks about persecution, predestination and justification. It talks of deliverance, freedom and victory.

Sometimes when we read passages like this, we miss what's in between. Significant verses are overlooked in the rush for needlepoint passages. Two of these popped out at me this week. I'd like to share them with you here.

Romans 8:26 -- "The Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." The passage continues to say the Spirit searches our hearts and our minds and intercedes for us "according to the will of God."

Romans 8:37 -- "In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us."

We may have tough weeks. We may have tough months and years and lives, but it doesn't matter much because the Spirit is groaning on our behalf. He is aching with us and when we haven't the energy to pray, when we haven't an inkling what we should pray for, He does and He does it for us.

What's more: we can and will overwhelmingly conquer all we face. Today, tomorrow and the next day. This isn't just survival, people. It's an overwhelming victory! It's something we'll feel in our toes and the shouts of joy will explode from our being. This is what we've been promised. This is what God will do for those who love Him.


Photo and clips by SusieJack.