In Religion, Not in Christ
📖 Romans 8:38 – "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Reflection on Key Truths
E. Stanley Jones highlights a deep struggle that many face—fear of the future. He recounts a story of a woman trapped in anxiety because, though religious, she was still living in herself, not in Christ. The turning point came when she surrendered, shifting her confidence from her own fading strength to the eternal security of Christ's indwelling life.
How easy it is to let fears creep in when our security rests on anything but Christ. When we anchor our peace in circumstances, personal charm, abilities, or even religious activity, we unknowingly set ourselves up for insecurity. But in Christ, eternity is already ours. The future is not an abyss of uncertainty but a continuation of His unchanging love. The answer to fear is not better circumstances, but a deeper surrender to the One who holds both time and eternity.
Journal Entry
Father, I recognize how easy it is to be caught up in the "what-ifs" of life. Even now, I can recall moments when my thoughts drifted toward uncertainty, trying to calculate outcomes, control situations, or brace myself for future struggles. But in doing so, I realize that I was subtly shifting my trust away from You and back onto myself—onto my own reasoning, my own strategies, my own strength.
That woman in Jones’ story—she was religious, but she wasn’t resting in You. I’ve seen this in others, and I’ve seen lingering traces of it in myself. The outward form of faith can sometimes mask an inward self-reliance. But what a difference when we exchange ourselves for You! No longer do I need to secure my own future, because You have already secured it in Christ. No longer do I need to hold everything together, because You hold me.
The world tries to offer solutions—medicine, technology, self-improvement. But no breakthrough in science can quiet a restless heart. No amount of human effort can erase fear when a person remains centered in themselves. Only You, Lord, can silence those anxieties, because only You are unchanging, eternal, and fully sufficient.
So today, I choose to rest. Not in my understanding of tomorrow, not in my own ability to navigate the unknown, but in You, the One who is already there. The One who is my life. The One who cannot be separated from me—by time, by circumstances, or even by my own weakness.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You that I am not left to navigate the unknown alone. Thank You that my future is as secure as You are. Nothing ahead can separate me from Your love, because I am in Christ, and He is my very life. I rest in Your sufficiency today, knowing that the same grace that holds me now will hold me in all the days to come.
Final Thought
Fear thrives when we rely on ourselves, but peace reigns when we rest in Christ. When our security is in Him, there is nothing in the present or future that can shake us.
📖 Credit: In Christ, E. Stanley Jones
📸 Photo credit: Unsplash