Know that the Comforter is With You

John 14:15-17 (King James Version)

15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:15-17 (The Message)

15-17"If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!

Word in Action:

Allow the Holy Spirit to be your Comforter. That is His purpose.

Lately there has been such a sense of heaviness in the air. Bad reports abound – murders, wars, political corruption, a struggling economy…the list goes on. I have encountered so many people who are weighed down with severe depression and anxiety.

Unfortunately, many Christians are falling victim to conditions of depression, oppression and anxiety. This is a very dangerous thing because people are looking at us to be lights in the midst of darkness. They expect us to remain hopeful in seemingly hopeless situations. And they are justified in having that expectation. You may be saying, “Now wait a minute, aren’t Christians human? We experience pain just like everybody else. If our loved one passes away, are we not allowed to be sorrowful? If we lose our jobs, are we not allowed to be upset and concerned about our next steps?”

I think Christians are allowed to be sorrowful, angry, upset, etc. but even in the midst of those experiences, we should not allow ourselves to give up hope. Instead, we should allow the Holy Spirit to comfort us. Jesus promised that when His physical body left the earth, the Comforter would be sent to abide with us FOREVER. Think about that. What is the definition of a comforter? One who comforts. What does it mean to comfort someone? It means to help, to soothe or console, to bring to physical ease. I submit to you that a comforter would not be necessary in our lives unless we were in a position in which we could not handle a situation on our own (i.e. we need help), or we are in pain (i.e. we need to be soothed or consoled), or we are anxious and on edge (i.e. we need to be brought to physical ease).

The moments when we are (a) unsure about what to do, (b) in physical, mental, or emotional pain, and/or (c) anxious about what lies ahead, are the exact moments when we need to allow God to be our Comforter. These are NOT the times to pull away from Him or seek after god-alternatives. Do not revert to your old ways of doing things simply because they are more convenient right now.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Pray. Rest. Worship. Remain hopeful.

Declaration of Faith:

The Comforter abides with me FOREVER. He directs my path, takes away my pain, and brings me to peace.

Song of Praise: