Bear Market

"38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. " Romans 8:38-39

In stock market parlance, a "Bear Market" is a period of time in the market characterized by pessimism. The overall trend of the market is down and the general outlook is negative. The two most significant Bear Markets were 1930 to 1932, following the crash of the stock market in 1929 which ushered in the Great Depression and 1973 to 1982, a milder Bear Market but a prolonged period of recession and job loss. Many financial experts believe we are now in a Bear market. The Stock Exchange, like life, has its ups and downs. In contrast God's love is a constant that never fluctuates.

There is no corollary on earth for the Love of God. Every other love has its conditions and parameters. Earthly love ebbs and flows and in sometimes, fails. Only the love of God overcomes and transforms. The significance of this is its absolute power. In Ephesians 3, Paul prays that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith so they can become rooted and established in love and have the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. During times when you think there is a deep, dark place of depression you can reach, from which there may be no return; understand that God's love is always there and that he is able to, in the words of Paul, do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.

I want you to believe today that there is no emotional turmoil you can have that can't be reached and wiped away by God's love for you.

Deacon Larry Woodard