Romans 8:37-39 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
As God’s people, we are more than conquerors through Him that loves us. When we face challenges in our lives, we can conquer them through Him that loves us. When we face challenges in our nation, we can conquer them through Him that loves us. When our leaders face challenges in their spheres of influence, they can conquer them through Him that loves us. We can be conquerors, but not through our own power. We can only be conquerors through Him.
Two years ago today was the kickoff of the PLUS ministry. Yet, this day has additional significance in my life. Six years ago today my organization faced tragedy in the loss of Dave “Cools” Cooley during an F-22 flight test accident. At around 10 am on that Wednesday morning, Cools passed into eternity while performing a difficult maneuver in order to increase the Raptor’s combat capabilities. Fortunately, Cools had a strong salvation testimony.
After medical authorities had confirmed his death and my boss had notified the new widow of her loss, I was left with the responsibility of notifying our 600-person organization that Cools was dead. As I walked several hundred yards across the ramp to a hangar where the anxious crowd was gathered, I walked with several subordinate leaders with whom I had already shared the sad news. Yet, I felt as if I walked alone, deep in my thoughts and prayers about how to share the horrific news. On that walk, I was poignantly aware of the burden and the loneliness of leadership.
God carried our organization through that trial. He helped us conquer the challenges contained therein. On that day, I closed my tragic announcement by leading our organization in a prayer in Jesus’ name. Indeed, even a horrible tragedy could not separate us from His love. He was the One who would allow us to be conquerors in spite of the challenges. A week later, I read from Romans 8 at a base-wide memorial service. These verses punctuated the important thought that as we face challenges in our lives, we can conquer them through Him that loves us.
As individuals and as a nation we must fully rely upon God to conquer the challenges that we face. As leaders face the lonely burdens of leadership, they too must fully rely upon the Lord to conquer the challenges that they face. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Why then should we try to overcome life’s challenges separated from Him? Why then should we try to overcome our nation’s challenges in the same way?
PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICA AND AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD CONQUER OUR CHALLENGES BY CLINGING TO THE LOVE OF GOD. After all, we were never intended nor equipped to conquer the trials of life alone.
