Last week I had the privilege of returning to my old church for the baptism of my three youngest grandchildren, who will grow up there. It is my fifth time to be back in that Sanctuary; the first four times were for funerals, and then we attended Christmas Eve service there last year. It is always a bittersweet moment for me, as I loved that church and its people. But how lovely it was to be there baptizing a new generation of family who will be blessed as I was to be a part of such a wonderful congregation! There was some confusion in the three-year-old’s mind, though. He couldn’t understand why he had to go to church for his “bath-tism” since he gets his baths at home. Considering that baths are for getting clean, he wasn’t far off!

As I looked out to the congregation from the stage, I was struck by a memory of kneeling on the concrete floor during the building of that worship center and writing my favorite scripture with a fat sharpie. The building committee had opened the space up before the carpet was laid and everyone was given an opportunity to write something on the bare floor. I chose Romans 8:28:

Romans 8 (Common English Bible)

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit comes to help our weakness. We don’t know what we should pray, but the Spirit himself pleads our case with unexpressed groans. ²⁷ The one who searches hearts knows how the Spirit thinks, because he pleads for the saints, consistent with God’s will. ²⁸ We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ We know this because God knew them in advance, and he decided in advance that they would be conformed to the image of his Son. That way his Son would be the first of many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ Those who God decided in advance would be conformed to his Son, he also called. Those whom he called, he also made righteous. Those whom he made righteous, he also glorified.

I have used that Scripture more in counseling and staff meetings than any other Scripture. I believe it with all my heart. God can use happy times, tragic times, disaster, abundance, scarcity, etc. for our good if we just look for his activity among us. If God is for us, who can be against us?

³¹ So what are we going to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He didn’t spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. Won’t he also freely give us all things with him?

This is important to remember when you feel that life is crumbling all around you. I have felt that way, and I’m sure you have, too. No matter what, we can never be separated from Christ’s love:

³⁷ But in all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us. ³⁸ I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers ³⁹ or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.

If you find yourself in the depth this morning, hold on to this promise. You can never be removed from God’s presence and his amazing and astounding love for you. We are named and claimed in our bath-tisms, and God never lets go.

Neither Height Nor Depth by Michelle Robertson