More Than Victorious: Trusting God Through Life’s Struggles

Devotional

Day 1: God Is For Us—No One Can Stand Against Us

The assurance that God is for us is the foundation of our hope and confidence, no matter what we face. Paul’s rhetorical question, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” reminds us that the ultimate power in the universe is on our side, and nothing in this world or beyond can ultimately prevail against us. This truth is not just a comfort but a call to live boldly, knowing that God’s presence and favor are greater than any opposition, fear, or circumstance. When life feels overwhelming and you are pressed on every side, remember that God’s love and commitment to you are unwavering and victorious. [33:27]

Romans 8:31 (ESV)
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel most “pressed” or opposed right now, and how might your perspective change if you truly believed that God is for you in that very place?

Day 2: God Provides Everything We Need—Even When He Withholds

God’s generosity is seen most clearly in the giving of His own Son, and this is the guarantee that He will graciously provide everything we truly need. Sometimes, what we desire is not what is best for us, and God’s loving wisdom may lead Him to withhold certain things for our growth, our relationship with Him, or because of the brokenness of the world. Even in seasons of lack or longing, we can trust that God’s heart is to lavish good things on His children, and that the best is yet to come when we are finally with Him face to face. [39:07]

Romans 8:32 (ESV)
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Reflection: Is there something you have been longing for that God has not given? How might you see His loving purpose in what He withholds as well as what He provides?

Day 3: God Removes Our Guilt—We Stand Justified and Forgiven

In Christ, no accusation or condemnation can stand against us, because God Himself has justified us, Christ has died and risen for us, and Jesus now intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. Even when we are painfully aware of our failures and sins, we can rest in the finished work of Jesus, who has paid the price and declared us forgiven. Our shame and guilt no longer define us; instead, we are invited to live in the freedom and joy of being fully accepted and loved by God. [47:28]

Romans 8:33-34 (ESV)
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Reflection: What accusation or sense of guilt do you still carry? How can you bring it to Jesus today and receive His declaration of forgiveness?

Day 4: Nothing Can Separate Us from the Love of Christ

No hardship, suffering, or even death itself can separate us from the love of Christ. Paul lists every conceivable trial—affliction, anguish, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword—and insists that in all these things, we are “more than victorious” through Him who loved us. Our victory is not in escaping suffering, but in knowing that Christ’s love holds us fast through it all, making us “hyper-victorious” even in the face of overwhelming odds. [54:17]

Romans 8:35-37 (ESV)
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Reflection: When you face hardship or feel abandoned, what would it look like to cling to the truth that you are “more than a conqueror” through Christ’s love?

Day 5: God’s Love Is Unbreakable—Now and Forever

There is absolutely nothing in all creation—neither death nor life, angels nor rulers, things present nor things to come, nor anything else—that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. This is the unshakable promise that anchors us in every storm and gives us hope beyond every loss. When you feel overwhelmed, isolated, or uncertain about the future, remember that God’s love is the one constant that will never let you go, now and for all eternity. [56:50]

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)
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.

Reflection: What fear about the future or sense of isolation do you need to surrender to God’s unbreakable love today?

Sermon Summary

In a world that feels increasingly heavy with anxiety, depression, and a sense of disconnection, it’s easy to wonder if following Christ is truly worth it—especially when life is filled with hardship, uncertainty, and even suffering. Yet, the heart of Romans 8:31-39 speaks directly to this question, offering a resounding affirmation that life with Christ is not only worth it, but is anchored in unshakeable hope and love.

Paul’s words remind us that God is unequivocally for us. If God is for us, who can be against us? This is not a shallow optimism, but a deep assurance rooted in the reality that God has already given us His most precious gift—His own Son. If God did not spare Jesus, but offered Him up for us all, how could He possibly withhold anything truly good from us? God’s generosity is not measured by material abundance or the absence of pain, but by the richness of relationship and the promise of ultimate restoration. Sometimes, God withholds things we desire—not out of neglect, but because He wants to draw us closer, to refine us, and to give us what is truly best, even if it means walking through seasons of want or difficulty.

Paul also paints a vivid courtroom scene: accusations are brought against us, and we know we are guilty. Yet, God Himself justifies us, Christ has died and risen for us, and now intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. Our guilt and shame are not the final word—grace is. We stand clean, not because of our own merit, but because of Christ’s finished work.

Finally, nothing—no hardship, persecution, famine, danger, or even death—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. The early church faced unimaginable trials, yet Paul insists that in all these things, we are “more than victorious” through Him who loved us. Our victory is not in escaping suffering, but in being held by a love that endures through every storm. No power, no circumstance, no failure can sever us from God’s love. In the end, the greatest treasure is not what God gives, but God Himself—His presence, His love, and the promise that He will never abandon us.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Generosity Surpasses Our Understanding God’s willingness to give His own Son demonstrates a generosity that far exceeds our expectations. He delights in providing for us, but sometimes withholds what we desire to draw us closer or to give us something better. Our relationship with Him is the true treasure, and even in seasons of lack, He is working for our ultimate good. [35:31]
2. Christ Removes All Guilt and Shame In the face of real accusations and genuine guilt, Christ’s death and resurrection secure our justification. We are not defined by our failures or condemned by our past; instead, we are declared righteous and beloved. Jesus continually intercedes for us, ensuring that nothing can separate us from God’s acceptance. [47:28]
3. Suffering Deepens Our Roots in God Difficulties are not signs of God’s absence, but opportunities for growth. Like trees that grow stronger in the wind, our faith is strengthened through adversity. God sometimes allows hardship so that we might develop resilience, deeper trust, and a more profound experience of His sustaining grace. [41:34]
4. Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love No circumstance—whether external pressures, internal struggles, or spiritual opposition—can sever us from the love of God in Christ. This love is steadfast, enduring, and victorious over every force that would seek to pull us away. Our security is not in our ability to hold on, but in God’s unwavering grip on us. [56:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:29] - Cultural Challenges Facing the Church
[28:39] - Is the Gospel Worth It?
[30:28] - Reading Romans 8:31-39
[33:27] - If God Is For Us
[35:31] - God’s Generosity and Provision
[37:19] - The Rich Young Ruler and True Treasure
[39:07] - Why God Sometimes Withholds
[41:34] - Growth Through Adversity
[43:28] - God’s Goodness Now and Forever
[44:56] - Christ Removes Our Guilt
[46:39] - The Courtroom of Grace
[47:28] - Christ’s Intercession for Us
[50:05] - Suffering and God’s Presence
[51:51] - Psalm 44 and Enduring Faith
[54:17] - True Victory in Christ
[56:10] - Nothing Can Separate Us
[56:50] - The Unbreakable Love of God
[58:21] - Clinging to Christ in All Things

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Romans 8:31-39 (ESV) —
> What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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.

Observation Questions

According to Paul in Romans 8:31-32, what is the evidence that God is “for us”? How does Paul use the example of God giving His own Son? [35:31]
In verses 33-34, what kind of “courtroom scene” does Paul describe? Who are the main characters, and what is the outcome for those in Christ? [44:56]
What kinds of hardships does Paul list in verses 35-36 that might make someone feel separated from God’s love? [50:05]
How does Paul describe the victory believers have in Christ, even in the face of suffering? [54:17]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says God’s generosity is not measured by material abundance, but by relationship and restoration. How does this challenge common ideas about what it means for God to “bless” us? [35:31]
Paul says that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. Why do you think he lists so many different kinds of hardships and powers? What is he trying to communicate to his readers? [56:10]
The sermon describes suffering as something that can deepen our roots in God, not just as a sign of God’s absence. How does this perspective change the way we view difficult seasons in life? [41:34]
In the “courtroom” scene, Paul says that God justifies us, Christ intercedes for us, and our guilt is removed. How does this truth affect the way we see ourselves and our past mistakes? [47:28]

Application Questions

The sermon mentions that sometimes God withholds things we desire to draw us closer to Him or to give us something better. Is there something you’ve wanted that God hasn’t given? How have you seen God use that situation for your growth or relationship with Him? [39:07]
When you feel accused—by others, by your own conscience, or by the enemy—how do you remind yourself of the truth that Christ has already justified you and is interceding for you? Is there a practical way you can bring this to mind during the week? [47:28]
Think about a recent hardship or season of suffering. In what ways did you experience God’s presence, or in what ways did you struggle to see Him? How might you look for God’s work in future difficulties? [41:34]
The sermon says that our security is not in our ability to hold on to God, but in God’s unwavering grip on us. When have you felt like letting go, and what helped you remember God’s faithfulness? [56:50]
Paul says we are “more than conquerors” through Christ who loved us. What does “victory” look like in your life right now? Is it escaping suffering, or is it experiencing God’s love and presence in the middle of it? [54:17]
The greatest treasure, according to the sermon, is not what God gives, but God Himself. How can you make God’s presence and love a greater focus in your daily life? Are there habits or practices you want to start or return to? [35:31]
The early church faced real persecution and loss for following Jesus. What are some ways you might face pressure or loss for your faith today? How does this passage encourage you to persevere? [50:05]

Sermon Clips

the thing that we found as the biggest issue for pastors and leaders in the church today is that so many of them are struggling with anxiety and depression and just despair and guys if these are our spiritual leaders and so many of them are struggling with that deep sense of disconnection how much more is that true of most of the people that we're around in fact how much is that true [00:27:06] (38 seconds) #FaithLeadersMentalHealth

he's saying he set up a courtroom scene for us here right he's saying okay let's be brought in for for our trial and the first thing that happens is that somebody brings accusations against you now it may be that it's some other person that's accusing you of some kind of evil it may be that it's the devil himself as he did with Job that's bringing accusations against you it may be that it's your own heart that brings accusations against you but in whatever way you stand accused and to be honest with you you are guilty you actually have done the things that are wrong that are bad [00:45:10] (39 seconds) #FacingAccusations

if we are honest with ourselves in this world we may not face the kind of difficulties that the early church faced we know what it's like to be squeezed we know what it's like to have all of our choices narrowed we know what it's like to be persecuted to be pursued to be all of those things that God allows to happen to us he's still near he's still with us none of these things will take God away [00:50:54] (46 seconds) #FaithInHardTimes

in all these things we are more than victorious that's actually one word you know there's this neat little Greek article that you can stick on the front of the word it's like hypo it means like bigger and bigger you know so it's like hyper victorious is the idea that we are hyper victorious more than victorious because of Jesus Christ who loved us [00:53:34] (28 seconds) #MoreThanVictorious

so many times when we feel like we're living in a world of turn well when maybe because of our own choices or maybe because of the choices of other people that our lives feel pressed and crushed but there are so many times when we feel overwhelmed and we feel like that our lack that not having the things that we need or not having the things that we want somehow is ripping us apart from your love and in the middle of all the difficulties that we face we lean into that promise and we cling to you because nothing is more valuable to us than to know Christ it's all worth it [00:57:40] (57 seconds) #UnbreakableLove

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What assures believers of God's unwavering love?

How does Christ's sacrifice demonstrate God's provision?

Why are difficulties essential for spiritual growth?