Separation anxiety

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (Romans 8:35)

Separation anxiety is something we have all experienced, even if we don’t remember it.
 
As children grow from babies into toddlers, they start to get unsettled with strangers and uncomfortable without their parents around. A baby who was quite fine with anyone holding them becomes a toddler who is clingy and always attached to their mum or dad. From around six months old to three years of age, this stage of life is a normal part of a child’s development.
 
Separation anxiety happens because a baby starts to realise that their parent is no longer around them. They start to worry that something bad will happen and don’t feel safe until that parent returns. This is all completely understandable and the anxiety disappears as the child realises they are safe with teachers, carers and other adults around them.
 
It is possible, however, to have separation anxiety in the Christian life. We have a Father who is in heaven, who has made himself know in Jesus and who is present with us by his Holy Spirit. Yet we can easily become anxious about being separated from the love and safety of our heavenly Parent.
 
When we do or say something wrong, we might worry that God is upset and has withdrawn from us. When life is difficult and hard times come our way, it can feel as if God is distant. When our mood is low, we can think that God has separated himself from us. All of this leads to worry and lack of assurance - spiritual separation anxiety. Has God left me? Is God far away from me?
 
The apostle Paul knew the problem of spiritual separation anxiety, and he writes to the Romans to reassure them of God’s continued presence. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” asks Paul. Then he goes on to list many things that might make God feel far away: death, danger and demons; past, present and future; trouble, trial and temptations. All of these things can give us separation anxiety and make us feel as if God is distant.
 
But Paul concludes: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors”, going on to state that absolutely nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
 
Separation anxiety is a natural thing, in babies and in Christians. While babies need to realise they are safe even without their parent close at hand, as Christians we learn that we are safe because our Father is always close at hand. He will never leave us, not forsake us. We need not be anxious because nothing can separate us from the love of God.
 
Photo by Jornada Produtora on Unsplash