August 31, 2026
— Maria Jane Dyer Taylor · Source: Record of Maria's conversation with Hudson Taylor before her death, July 23, 1870
Romans 8:38-39 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.
On her deathbed, Maria said, 'For ten years, there has not been even a cloud between my soul and my Savior.' This was not because her life was smooth sailing, but because she always kept her heart open to God in the face of persecution, the loss of her children, and illness. Romans 8 reminds us that neither suffering nor death can sever God's love. Reflecting on our daily lives, what often separates us is not external hardships, but inner anxiety, hidden sins, or complaints about our circumstances. True peace is built on the firm belief that, no matter what happens, no power can separate us from the love of Christ, allowing us to abide with the Lord in quietness and trust.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the unconditional love You have given us in Christ, upon which we can rely at all times. Help me, like Maria, to learn to cast all my anxieties upon You amidst the ups and downs of circumstances and the trials of life. Clear away even the slightest barrier or doubt between me and You, so that my heart may find true rest in Your truth and love. Lord, grant me faith and strength, so that whether in death or life, in prosperity or adversity, I may be deeply convinced that nothing can separate me from Your love. In the holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.