Moses, Jeremiah, Paul (and millions more of God’s people) found that even trials they could not handle on their own could not separate them from God’s steadfast love. Paul wrote, “We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. We are harassed, but we aren’t abandoned. We are knocked down, but we aren’t knocked out” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). He knew all about “trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword” (verse 35). Those are the parts of life we often cannot handle. God allows us to face them, but God never leaves us while we face them. They may go way beyond our strength—but they cannot separate us from God’s love. That is always with us.

• Review Paul’s list of life’s obstacles—“trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword.” Which of those most often leave you feeling overwhelmed, not sure you can handle them? When you face something you cannot handle, what difference can it make to your frame of mind to know that God’s steady, unfailing love continues to enfold you at those times? How can you keep building your confidence in that love, a love that never lets you go?