Read: Romans 8:31-39
If God is for us, who can be against us? (v. 31)
Our Words of Hope staff gathers Monday mornings to pray together. I’ve noticed a few begin with “Our gracious God and heavenly Father . . .” It reminds me of so many prayers I heard in the Reformed church of my youth. The phrase springs from a Reformed theological worldview shaped by texts like Romans 8 and explained in the Heidelberg Catechism.
Paul tells us that the good things that come our way are from God and none of the hard things we endure will separate us from God. If he gave us the precious gift of his own Son, then he will certainly and “graciously give us all things” (v. 32). Above all, we will not be condemned (v. 1). The only one who could condemn us is Jesus (v. 34) because he is the perfect Son of God. And what does Jesus do instead? He died, he rose, and right now he is interceding in prayer for us at the right hand of God! Nothing can ever come between us and God because of Jesus!
The Catechism explains that this gives us an unshakable confidence. “I trust God so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends upon me in this sad world. God is able to do this because he is almighty God, and desires to do this because he is a faithful Father” (Q&A 26). If this God is on our side, what can we possibly fear?
As you pray, thank God for being for you.
About the Author
Rev. Jon Opgenorth serves as president of Words of Hope. Previously, he served for 18 years as senior pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City, Iowa. In preparation for ministry, he received a BA in Religion from Northwestern College, and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary.
