“The Father… will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth… You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you… the Helper, the Advocate, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”
“It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment… When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you… I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.'” John 14:16-17,26-27; 15:26; 16:7-8,13-15,33
“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?” Romans 8:32
Jesus prepared His beloved disciples for His departure and their new way of life without His physical presence. While they could not fully understand His teaching at the time, the very promise that the Spirit would help them understand made sense after His death. His words left them with a splendid, mysterious anticipation that would come to full light after the darkness of His crucifixion and magnificence of His ascension. Indeed the Holy Spirit would abide with, guide, and empower their days going forward.
These words remind and help us also. Every day life is fraught with conundrums of thought, emotion, relationship, and decision. We struggle to make sense of plans divinely interrupted and unwanted intrusions upon health and livelihood. We cannot comprehend the whys and hows and what ifs that play out in international affairs and markets and media. Challenges without and anxieties within, we want help and peace.
For the child of God, His very real and abiding Spirit is present for every vexation. He settles the unsettled, answers the questioning soul, illuminates darkness, elucidates confusion, consoles the hurting, breathes life into exhaustion and peace over storms. How well do we know Him as Counselor, Comforter, and Advocate?
In what trying situations, relational roadblocks, stressful quandaries, or poignant heart matters do we need the Holy Spirit’s help today? Would we pause and ask Him to make Himself real in these specific areas, and watch for how He answers, intervenes, heals, assists, inspires? Acknowledging who He is and that He is nigh brings a peace only God’s children can know.
Lord, teach me reliance on Your blessed, powerful Spirit.
As the rain and snow 