Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20.

I wanted to share this from You Are The Beloved by Henri Nouwen: “People who have come to know the joy of God do not deny the darkness, but they choose not to live in it. They claim that the light that shines in the darkness can be trusted more than the darkness itself and that a little bit of light can dispel a lot of darkness. They point each other to flashes of light here and there, and remind each other that they reveal the hidden but real presence of God. They discover that there are people who heal each other’s wounds, forgive each other’s offenses, share their possessions, foster the spirit of community, celebrate the gifts they have received, and live in constant anticipation of the full manifestation of God’s glory.”

Our chapter, Romans 5, is for me the hardest and most difficult chapter in the whole Bible to understand. I stumbled over the words and tried to pick up the thread and prayed for understanding. This has been a difficult morning, and only 1.5 hours into my day so far! It began when I woke up early and tried to talk with God and felt as though even my thoughts wouldn’t form themselves. Everything felt disjointed in my morning routine; and then our chapter. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone will dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. v. 1-8. Having taken my frustrations to God in prayer, these words are again so beautiful. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. v. 9-10. I googled reconciled: “The restoration of a broken relationship between humanity and God through Jesus Christ.” And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned – for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin was not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died…much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man…Jesus Christ…abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation…but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one…death reigned through the one…much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men…even so through one act of righteousness…there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners…even so…through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life with Jesus Christ our Lord. v. 11-21.

In my frustration this morning with my very thoughts fighting me, I asked God why did Satan have to be? Could even the demons be forgiven and restored? I couldn’t even go there about Satan himself. In all my discombobulation, He told me to be still and remember that He IS. I was experiencing what the disciples felt when He left them – unsure…bereft…frightened. But unless He left then, I couldn’t be with Him now and Him with me. And that for me to surrender to Him is to die in my flesh resistant to Him – so I can live in the spirit with Him with me. Joined together. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you. John 14:20. I asked Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, to help me understand our chapter written by Paul who was light years ahead of me…and He gave me so much more. He gave Himself and His peace and knowing I am His and loved. He will never leave me and I will never leave Him!