An encouraging Bible verse

By Jonathan Berry

John 14:15-27  New International Version Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Trusting in the Holy Spirit 

By Julian Berkeley

Remember those bright, snowy days a little while back – distant memory now! The Ennerdale fells glowed beautifully in the sunshine and, for a keen fellwalker, beckoned you to come and play. It was on one of these magical days that I was walking up Crag Fell, my snow spikes wrapped around my boots, the crust of ice over the snow crunching under each footfall, that I was pondering the work of the Holy Spirit.
 
You see, those spikes are amazing! I have learned to trust them 

completely, even in the slipperiest of conditions. Of course, that took some doing – it was only with experience that I discovered that they wouldn’t let me down, that I wouldn’t slip and fall. Indeed, they’ve even been know to support others too: one memorable day, descending from Helvellyn, I came across a great bank of compacted snow, on a very steep slope, through which the path ran. A young man was stuck, halfway across, unable to go forward or back, and his mum was stuck on the path, beside herself with worry. With those snow spikes, I was able to help them both across the treacherous slope to safety.
 
So, how does the Holy Spirit fit into this scenario? Well, in our Christian journey, walking with the Holy Spirit, it’s only through experience that we learn to trust Him. Romans 8:26 tells us that “the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Let’s face it, life seems to be one slippery slope of disasters waiting to happen! Whether in our work, our home life, our downtime, temptation is all around, we’re faced with tasks that we don’t feel up to; but ... trusting the Holy Spirit to guide and encourage us enables us to navigate those tricky situations with confidence. I mentioned that I have learned to trust those snow spikes – well, I’ve also learned that the Holy Spirit “will not your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber.” (Psalm 121:3). As I said, it’s only through the experience of those difficult situations, knowing that I don’t have what it takes to handle them, but God does, that I have come to understand that I can lean on the Holy Spirit 100%, and He isn’t going to let me down. What a measure of peace that brings! And He’s there for each one of us, no matter what the situation, the trauma, the worry – and He isn’t going to let us down.