The Holy Spirit our Help

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”  John 16:7

I love seeing in scripture the mercy of God bestowed upon His believers. Mercy can be defined as God’s loving kindness and warm affection toward those who are perplexed and threatened by life’s situations [1].  It is unfortunate that many people, including many Christians, go through life neglecting certain aspects of this so great of mercy. God’s mercy is for the present and future and for ALL His people to readily receive.

God’s great mercy for mankind can be seen through His gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus declared that He would “… pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever” (John 14:16). He knew that His people could not make it through all of life’s struggles without divine help. The Holy Spirit, our helper, teaches us how to daily walk amid the struggles of life and reminds us of Christ who is our strength and salvation (see John 14:26, 15:26; Phil. 4:13). And it is the grace of Christ Jesus that has made a way for the power of the Spirit to rest on the weary and worn out (see 2 Cor. 12:9). The empowerment of the Spirit is for our help; “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.” (Romans 8:26a)

It was the mercy of Christ when Jesus told His disciples to “tarry…until you have been endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49) and to “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). It is the mercy of Christ that says to you and I today; “receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). No matter what struggles are evident in ones life, the Holy Spirit is more than able to help. He wants to be your “very present help in trouble“. (Ps. 46:1) Receive God’s mercy for your present and future today. Receive the Holy Spirit!

[1] Adapted from “Maintaining the Foundations” by French Arrington

Scriptures are from New King James Version