The Unchanging Love of God: Always Here for Us
Summary
The love of God is steadfast and unchanging, no matter what we have done or how far we feel we have fallen. Growing up surrounded by family, music, and stories, I learned early on the comfort of belonging and being loved. Yet, even with such a foundation, there have been many times in my life when I felt like a lost cause, beyond repair. But God has always proven Himself to be the God who stays—He never gives up on us, even when we might give up on ourselves.
Romans 8:35-39 assures us that nothing—no hardship, no failure, no power—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. This truth is echoed in the song “The God Who Stays,” which reminds us that God runs toward us when the world walks away. We see this throughout Scripture: Moses doubted and disobeyed, yet God called him friend and showed him His glory. David committed grave sins, but God still called him a man after His own heart because David repented and God’s love endured. The woman caught in adultery was condemned by others, but Jesus offered her forgiveness and freedom, refusing to condemn her.
God’s love is not based on our performance or our ability to earn it. He sees beyond our outward failures and looks at our hearts. Even when we are weighed down by shame, guilt, or the lies of the enemy, God’s grace covers us. He buries our past and remembers our sins no more. Like the father in the story of the prodigal son, God waits and watches for us, running to embrace us the moment we turn back to Him.
Peter denied Jesus three times, yet Jesus made sure Peter knew he was still included, still loved, still called. God’s love is relentless and personal. He knew us before we were born, and He has good plans for us. We may walk away, but He will never walk away from us. He is the God who stays, who endured the cross for us, and who will never leave or forsake us. No matter what, nothing can separate us from His love.
Key Takeaways
- God’s Love Is Unbreakable and Unconditional
No matter what we face—tribulation, distress, failure, or even our own sense of being a lost cause—God’s love remains steadfast. Romans 8 assures us that nothing in all creation can separate us from His love. This is not a love we can lose by our mistakes or earn by our successes; it is rooted in who God is, not in what we do. [08:35]
- God Stays With Us Through Our Failures
The stories of Moses and David show that even when we disobey or fall into sin, God does not abandon us. Moses struck the rock in anger, David committed adultery and murder, yet God continued to call them, use them, and love them. Our failures may have consequences, but they do not disqualify us from God’s love or His presence. [16:53]
- God’s Grace Covers Our Shame and Guilt
Like the woman caught in adultery, we may feel exposed and condemned, but Jesus offers us forgiveness and a new start. He does not define us by our worst moments; instead, He invites us to leave our sin behind and walk in freedom. The enemy may remind us of our past, but God buries our sins in the sea of forgetfulness and remembers them no more. [21:04]
- God Runs Toward Us, Not Away From Us
The parable of the prodigal son reveals the heart of the Father—He watches, waits, and runs to embrace us when we return. God is not passive or distant; He actively seeks relationship with us, longing to restore and bless us. Even when we feel unworthy, His compassion and joy overflow at our return. [25:16]
- God’s Faithfulness Is Greater Than Our Weakness
Peter’s denial of Jesus could have marked the end of his story, but Jesus made sure Peter knew he was still loved and included. God’s faithfulness does not waver when we stumble; He prays for us, restores us, and continues to call us His own. Our identity is secure in His love, and nothing—no shame, guilt, or failure—can separate us from Him. [31:16]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:31] - Opening Prayer and Gratitude
[05:16] - Family Memories and Storytelling
[06:38] - The God Who Stays: Introduction
[07:23] - Romans 8: Nothing Can Separate Us
[08:35] - Lyrics from “The God Who Stays”
[09:39] - Feeling Like a Lost Cause
[11:48] - Moses: Doubt, Disobedience, and God’s Faithfulness
[14:07] - David: Chosen, Fallen, and Restored
[16:53] - God’s Enduring Love for David
[18:11] - The Woman Caught in Adultery
[21:04] - God Forgets Our Sins
[22:56] - The Enemy’s Lies vs. God’s Truth
[23:51] - The Prodigal Son: The Father’s Compassion
[25:16] - God Runs to Embrace Us
[26:57] - God’s Plans and Our Worth
[28:49] - Peter’s Denial and Restoration
[31:16] - Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love
[33:49] - God Sees the Heart
[34:47] - The Cross: The Ultimate Staying Love
[36:53] - A Funny Story: The Chicken Who Wouldn’t Die
[38:40] - Blessing and Closing
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The God Who Stays
---
### Bible Reading
- Romans 8:35-39
("Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ... nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.")
- John 8:1-11
(The story of the woman caught in adultery, whom Jesus forgives and tells, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.")
- Luke 15:11-24
(The parable of the prodigal son, focusing on the father running to embrace his returning son.)
---
### Observation Questions
1. In Romans 8:35-39, what are some of the things Paul lists that cannot separate us from the love of Christ?
2. According to the story in John 8:1-11, how did Jesus respond to the woman caught in adultery when everyone else wanted to condemn her?
3. In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24), what does the father do when he sees his son returning home?
4. The sermon mentioned several people in the Bible who failed or messed up. Who were some of these people, and how did God respond to them? [[11:48]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Paul is so confident that nothing can separate us from God’s love? What does this say about the nature of God’s love?
2. The sermon says, “God’s love is not based on our performance or our ability to earn it. He sees beyond our outward failures and looks at our hearts.” How does this truth challenge the way people often think about God’s love? [[15:18]]
3. When Jesus tells the woman, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more,” what does this reveal about how God deals with our sin and shame? [[21:04]]
4. The father in the prodigal son story runs to meet his son. What does this action tell us about God’s attitude toward us when we return to Him, even after we’ve messed up? [[25:16]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon shared that even when we feel like a “lost cause” or “beyond repair,” God stays with us. Can you think of a time in your life when you felt this way? How did you experience (or how do you wish you had experienced) God’s presence during that time? [[09:39]]
2. Moses, David, and Peter all failed in big ways, but God didn’t give up on them. Is there a failure or mistake in your life that you feel disqualifies you from God’s love or calling? What would it look like to trust that God still wants to use you? [[16:53]]
3. The enemy often reminds us of our past mistakes and tries to make us feel condemned. What are some practical ways you can remind yourself of God’s forgiveness and grace when you feel weighed down by shame or guilt? [[22:00]]
4. The father in the prodigal son story didn’t wait for his son to clean himself up before running to him. Are there areas in your life where you are waiting to “get it together” before coming back to God? What would it look like to come to Him just as you are? [[25:16]]
5. The sermon said, “God’s faithfulness is greater than our weakness.” How can you lean into God’s faithfulness this week, especially in areas where you feel weak or unworthy? [[31:16]]
6. Jesus told Peter that he was still included and loved, even after denying Him. Is there someone in your life who needs to know they are still loved and included? How can you show them God’s love this week? [[31:16]]
7. The message repeated that “nothing can separate us from God’s love.” What is one practical step you can take this week to rest in that truth, especially when you are tempted to doubt it? [[33:49]]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Thank God for His steadfast love that never gives up on us. Ask Him to help each person in the group believe and experience His love, no matter what they are facing. Pray for courage to come to Him just as we are, and for the grace to show that same love to others.
Devotional
Day 1: Nothing Can Separate Us from the Love of God
No matter what trials, failures, or circumstances we face, God's love remains steadfast and unbreakable. Even when we feel like lost causes or beyond repair, His love pursues us and holds us close. The world may walk away, but God runs toward us with open arms, assuring us that nothing in all creation can separate us from His love in Christ Jesus. When doubts or shame threaten to overwhelm, remember that His love is not based on our performance but on His unchanging character. [08:35]
Romans 8:35-39 (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. 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: When you feel unworthy or distant from God, what is one practical way you can remind yourself today that His love for you is unbreakable and ever-present?
Day 2: God’s Grace Covers Our Failures
God’s grace is greater than our biggest mistakes, and He offers forgiveness and restoration even when we have failed deeply. Like Moses, David, and Peter, we may disobey, doubt, or deny, but God does not abandon us. He sees our hearts, calls us His friends, and continues to work in our lives despite our shortcomings. His love is not withdrawn when we stumble; instead, He stays with us, offering new beginnings and hope. [16:53]
Psalm 103:10-14 (ESV)
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt you had failed God—how can you accept His grace and forgiveness today, and let go of lingering shame?
Day 3: Jesus Offers Mercy, Not Condemnation
When we are caught in sin or feel condemned by others, Jesus meets us with mercy, not judgment. Just as He forgave the woman caught in adultery, He silences our accusers and invites us to a new life free from condemnation. He does not define us by our worst moments but by His love and grace. When the enemy reminds you of your past, remember that Jesus says, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” [20:02]
John 8:1-11 (ESV)
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you feel condemned or unworthy? How can you receive Jesus’ mercy and walk in the freedom He offers today?
Day 4: The Father Runs to Welcome Us Home
God’s heart is always turned toward us, longing for relationship and ready to welcome us back no matter how far we have wandered. Like the father in the story of the prodigal son, He watches for us, runs to embrace us, and restores us as His beloved children. He is not waiting to punish but to forgive, celebrate, and bring us into the fullness of His love and purpose. [25:16]
Luke 15:20-24 (ESV)
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Reflection: Is there a part of your life where you need to “come home” to God? What step can you take today to turn toward Him and receive His embrace?
Day 5: God Will Never Leave or Forsake You
God’s faithfulness is unchanging—He promises to never leave or forsake us, no matter what we face or how we feel. Even when others walk away or when we struggle with doubt, He remains by our side, working in our lives and calling us His own. His presence is constant, His love unwavering, and His desire is for us to trust Him fully, knowing that He is the God who stays. [32:51]
Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Reflection: When you feel alone or abandoned, how can you remind yourself of God’s promise to stay with you and trust Him with your fears today?
Quotes
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