By Marilyn Pritchard
The night before Jesus’ death, at His last Passover meal, He had a long talk with His disciples. He tried to warn them about what was coming. He was going to leave them for awhile, He said, but He would send them a Helper. This Helper would remind them of everything Jesus had taught them.
And they were going to need it, because there were tough times ahead. They would be persecuted, Jesus told them; they would experience great sorrow. Jesus didn’t promise them all sweetness and light. Instead, He warned, “In this world you will have trouble.” And yet, He said, “in me you may have peace. …I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
The Helper that Jesus promised them is the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity. There are many meanings of the word for helper used in John’s gospel. It can also mean “comforter” and “advocate.”
Besides being a cozy blanket that wraps you in its warmth and protection, a comforter is someone who comes alongside you, even in times of trouble, when you are sad, angry, frustrated, hurt, or lost. Sometimes they don’t have to say a thing. Just knowing they’re there, without judgment, wrapping their arms around you, gives you a feeling of their comforting presence.
An advocate is someone who stands up for you, defends you, whether in a court of law or just to the outside world. Knowing that someone is in your corner, pleading your case to the Father, sometimes with “sighs and groanings too deep for words” (Rom 8:26, AMP) can give you the faith and confidence you need to keep going, to put one foot in front of the other, even in the hardest of times.
We are promised the same Helper that Jesus promised His disciples. As Peter told the crowds in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:38-39). Knowing we have His Spirit within us, to comfort us and stand up for us, allows us to experience that peace Jesus promised his disciples as well, even as He faced the cross.
Are you facing hard times right now? Just Between Us (JBU) is here to support you no matter what you’re going through. Take a look at some of the articles listed below. You might find one that speaks directly to your circumstances. Or you might find strength reading about other women’s struggles and how God met them where they were at. He will meet you, too, if you open yourself up to his Spirit and accept His life-giving hope. Let God supply the faith you need for the hard times you face.