In the last post I talked about the perfect peace God can bring into seasons of change. The reason God gives that peace is because He first showed His steadfast love to us. God’s perfect peace is the gift that proves God’s love for His people. We must cling to the pursuing, comforting, and inseparable love of God.

Pursues

“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost, [searching] until he finds it?” Luke 15:4

“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” Luke 15:20

It is important to firstly see that God’s love is active. He is not passively waiting for you to go to Him for Him to show His love. As Luke 15 shows in multiple passages, God goes after His people. In verse 4, Jesus is using the analogy of a shepherd and his flock. The Good Shepherd does not abandon the one that walked away, rather, He leaves the 99 for the 1 to bring it back. God is the Good Shepherd, He is the one who pursues His flock, even if it is just a lowly sheep. The other passage in Luke 15 is the parable of the prodigal son. The son had taken his inheritance and left his father. Even after the son disrespected his father and ran away, the father still forgives him. But while the son was still a long way off, the father runs out to meet him and welcome him back with open arms. God is the father in the story, He is not waiting for us to pay for our mistakes. He is running out to meet us and love us. In seasons of change, God is not waiting for your life to settle down to love you, He is pursuing you through the weeds of the changing landscape of your life.

Holds

“‘Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’” Isaiah 41:10

“He said, ‘Come!’ So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” Matthew 14:29-31

The greatest news about God pursuing His people is that when He gets you, He stays and holds you. We see this in Isaiah 41:10 where God promises to take hold of Isaiah. God’s love leads Him to walk us through all that we may face. God, in all His love, is taking us by the hand and guiding us through all the fears brought on by change. How great is it that the One who placed each star into place is caring for His people with the same intentionality, to the point of taking hold of us. It reminds me of Peter walking on the waves. This story is one I lean on when I am going through seasons of change. Far too often people see the raging sea and do not listen to God calling them to something. Stepping onto water can be daunting when you’ve only ever walked on land. Have faith in the love of God, that He will catch you like He did Peter. The One who sends the waves will hold you until they subside.

Inseparable

“For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

“The Lord appeared to me (Israel) from ages past, saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.’” Jeremiah 31:3

This point in particular has been laid on heavy for me to write about. For many of my times encountering change, it has been because of relationships. Maybe it was someone moving away, maybe I thought someone hurt me, or even someone in authority failed. All of those have hurt me in various times of my life. After a while it may seem like a natural part of relationships that they bring on disappointment and hurt. When it does happen, it should push you to find the one relationship that will remain. That relationship is only with God. Romans 8:38-39 shows how nothing can separate. Know that whatever comes, God and His unlimited perfect love will be the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will never leave, He will never hurt, and He will never fail. Not even time will end a relationship with God. God’s love is everlasting and never-changing. So when you face change and trials, go to God’s love and have confidence knowing that it is pursuing, that it will hold you, and will never let anything separate it for all of time.