Today I told my friend Jen goodbye. Having met her a year ago, I liked her from the first time I interviewed her for a teaching position in our department. I soon realized we were twins born 8 years apart—she too keeps bananas in her freezer forever and has a sensitive heart. Witty, bright, strong—and unafraid to cry—Jen embraces life with passion. I’ll miss her dearly as she begins a new life with her husband in a different city and state. As unexpectedly as our paths crossed, they now divide.

Traveling around Europe and Asia, the apostle Paul knew more of partings and distance in his relationships than he did of consistency and geographical closeness. Though he was unafraid to tell of his disappointment in various relationships and quick to ask for aid when needed (2 Timothy 1:15, 2 Timothy 4:10-13), the account of his meeting with the elders from Ephesus for a final goodbye provides an intimate glimpse into the love Paul had for others. He wanted—and perhaps even needed—to see them again (Acts 20:17). But when dealing with the finality of this parting, Paul kept his eyes focused on the purpose God had given him for those relationships in the first place: to advance Jesus’ kingdom (Acts 20:24-25).

Separation isn’t easy, even when we know God is in control, and especially when the relationship is one that has brought spiritual growth to our lives. We fear change; we dread loss. But we can either live closed off in an attempt to avoid painful goodbyes, or we can fully love those God gives us in a divine—not random—appointment.

When the goodbyes invariably come, our hope remains constant: God is up to something good (Romans 8:28).

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Ruth 3:1-18