Most children, more than half according to some studies, had a teddy bear or some kind of stuffed animal or blanket that they hold very dear during the early years of their childhood. They like to snuggle up with it when they need some form of comfort. For me it was a sock monkey, very much like the one in the picture, that my grandmother had made for me. As I think back, it was a great sort of comfort for me when the thunder and lightning filled me with fear. It would some how calm me when I would hear my parents relentless arguing between themselves. My sock monkey also somehow even made the measles or flu feel just a little bit better.
Now we may out grow our teddy bears, blankets and sock monkeys but we never grow out of the need for a comforter. When Jesus walked this earth He was that source of counsel and comfort for His disciples and as He prepared to return to Heaven He knew that His disciples, you and I would need a comforter.
John 14:16 says, “All I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.”
This past week was difficult for me. I had questions, things I didn’t understand and it just didn’t seem that I was finding answers in my prayers. Then the Holy Spirit, our comforter helped to remind me that I won’t always get the answers I’m looking, things won’t always go my way but that I can trust Him. He will always be with me, forever the scripture says and I can rest in that assurance. It’s an exercise of my faith to believe, trust and obey even without knowing all the answers.
The Holy Spirit, our great counselor and comforter is always there for us when we are sick, afraid, scared, confused, unsure and insecure. I am greateful and praise God for His Holy Spirit. I may have outgrown my sock monkey, but Jesus promised me that the Holy Spirit would be with me forever.
the Rear Pew 