When Opposition Comes, Remember Who Is With You
There are moments in life when the odds feel impossible. A medical report, a fractured relationship, or the quiet fear of failure can make us feel alone in the world.
And then, a whisper of Scripture breaks through “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
This single sentence from the Apostle Paul has carried countless believers through storms. But what does it really mean? Is it a promise that life will be easy or something deeper, something that transforms how we face our battles?
Let’s walk through the heart of Romans 8 and discover what Paul meant, how it connects with verses like Romans 8:37 and Matthew 21:22, and how this truth shapes the way we live and pray today.
If God Is For Us, Who Can Be Against Us? (Romans 8:31)
Paul’s question isn’t a challenge to argue it’s a declaration of confidence. Romans 8:31 comes after one of the most powerful passages in all of Scripture. Paul has just described how God foreknew, called, justified, and glorified His people. Then he says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
The Context of Romans 8
Romans 8 is often called the “Hymn of the Spirit.” It begins with “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (v. 1) and ends with “Nothing can separate us from the love of God” (v. 39).
Between those two promises lies the story of grace in motion the Spirit interceding, creation groaning, believers waiting in hope, and God working all things together for good.
When Paul asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” he’s not denying that enemies exist. He’s saying they cannot prevail. It’s a way of declaring that no force not sin, not suffering, not Satan can undo what God has begun.
The Heart of the Verse
To say “God is for us” means that the Creator of the universe is not indifferent toward His people. He is actively, lovingly, and eternally committed to their good.
Paul builds the argument in the next verse: “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all how will He not also graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
If God has already given His Son for us, we can trust Him with everything else our future, our fears, and our daily needs.
Living This Truth
When we understand that God is for us, something changes inside.
- We stop living as victims of circumstance and start standing as children of God.
- We stop seeing opposition as final defeat and start seeing it as an opportunity for God to reveal His strength.
- We begin to pray not from panic, but from peace.
More Than Conquerors Through Him Who Loved Us (Romans 8:37)
A few verses later, Paul writes another breathtaking line: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Here lies the companion truth to Romans 8:31 not only is God for us, but He empowers us to overcome.
What Does “More Than Conquerors” Mean?
In the Roman world, the term “conqueror” brought to mind soldiers returning victorious from battle. But Paul says believers are more than conquerors not because of our strength, but because Christ’s love secures the victory before the battle even begins.
This isn’t about winning every earthly fight. It’s about knowing that no hardship, persecution, or loss can separate us from God’s love. Even suffering becomes a stage where His grace shines brightest.
“Victory in Christ isn’t the absence of struggle; it’s the assurance that struggle cannot have the final word.”
Applying This to Life
When anxiety rises or relationships break down, remember that being “more than a conqueror” doesn’t mean everything will go your way. It means God’s love will carry you through whatever comes your way.
It means that while others might see failure, God sees formation shaping you into someone who trusts Him more deeply.
So when you face rejection, delay, or pain, whisper this truth: “If God is for me, who can be against me?”
What Does Jesus Mean in Matthew 21:22?
Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:22)
This verse is sometimes misunderstood as a guarantee that every prayer will be answered exactly as we wish. But in the light of Romans 8:31, it carries a deeper meaning.
Faith Aligned with God’s Will
In Matthew 21, Jesus has just cursed a barren fig tree a living parable of faith without fruit. Then He turns to His disciples and says that genuine faith can move mountains.
But mountain-moving faith isn’t about personal ambition; it’s about alignment. It’s the faith that prays according to God’s will, trusting that His plan is always good even when His timing feels slow.
When Jesus says, “you will receive if you have faith,” He’s calling us to pray with confidence that our Father is for us.
It’s not a blank cheque it’s an invitation to trust.
The Connection
Romans 8:31 declares that God is on our side. Matthew 21:22 reminds us how to live in that reality by praying boldly and believing that a loving Father listens.
Faith doesn’t force God’s hand; it opens ours to receive what He already wants to give.
Walking in the Victory You Already Have
Knowing that God is for us changes everything about how we live.
Our Identity
We are not defined by our mistakes, fears, or the opinions of others.
Romans 8 reminds us that our identity is secure chosen, justified, loved. When God calls you His child, no accusation can undo that.
Our Confidence
When trials come, the question isn’t, “Will God still be with me?” but “How will His presence show up this time?”
Believers who rest in this truth walk with a quiet strength. They pray differently, forgive quicker, and stand taller.
Our Relationships and Mission
If God is for us, we are free to be for others. We can serve without fear, love without calculation, and forgive without conditions.
God’s “for-us” love becomes our “for-others” lifestyle.
Reflection Prompts
- Where in your life do you need to be reminded that God is for you?
- What “mountains” in your world could faith begin to move if you trusted God’s will more deeply?
- How can you reflect the same “for-us” love toward someone who needs grace this week?
What This Teaches Us About Faith
Paul’s bold declaration isn’t a slogan it’s a cornerstone of Christian assurance.
If God is for us, who can be against us? means:
- God’s purpose is unstoppable.
- His love is unbreakable.
- His presence is unshakeable.
So when fear knocks, answer with faith.
When doubt whispers, remember Calvary.
When you feel surrounded, remind yourself: You are not alone. The One who is for you has already conquered the world.
A Closing Prayer
Lord, thank You for reminding me that You are for me not against me.
Teach me to live with courage, to pray with faith, and to love with confidence.
Help me face every challenge knowing that nothing can separate me from Your love in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
Dr. Hannah Grace Matthews is a Bible scholar with a Ph.D. in Theology from Cambridge. She explains Scripture with warmth and clarity, helping readers understand God’s grace and truth in everyday life.
