For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:39

The love of those closest to us is a powerful force.  When we’re in trouble, they’ll come.  When we’re sick, they’ll sit with us.  When we’re in danger, they go with us if they can.  But there are limits to where they can go.  When I’m going in for life-threatening surgery, they must leave me at the door. When my soul is hurting, there also comes a point of separation.  They must sleep, go to work, attend to their own lives, and if it’s a friend, they must go home. 

When Jonah was swallowed by a great fish and spent three days in his belly, God was right there with him.  No friend could have done that.  When Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, God was right there with him.  When he faced the dangers of re-entry back into our atmosphere and could have quickly bounced off and headed forever into space, God would have been there with him too.

What comprises the goodness of God today?  His promise of love, the assurance of His prayers, and the comfort of His presence no matter what I face.  No surgery room keeps Him out.  No maximum security prison locks Him out.  If I travel to the remotest part of our planet, He is there, in me and around me.

There is no place I can go on earth or in heaven that You are not with me, not out of duty but out of love and desire.  Goodness like this I cannot comprehend.  Thank you.  Amen