God is With Us

This is part of the update email I sent out yesterday – thought it might be helpful to others. If you’d like to get the email, you can sign up here.

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She’s one of my oldest and dearest friends. We’ve grown up together – known each other since we were five, call each other every day. And this week she’s had absolutely devastating news. The kind where you can’t catch your breath, you can’t believe it’s true, you don’t know how to get through the day. I’ve been some of the places she is right now, and it kills me to see her hurting like this. How do I help here? How can we know God is with us, even in the midst of this terrible tragedy?

“But the Counselor, 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. 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” (John 14:26-27)

When she first told me, she said, “I can’t feel God. I know He’s here, but I can’t feel Him.” (Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.”) She said, “I can’t even pray, I don’t know what to pray. But I know the Holy Spirit is praying for me.” (Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us.”)

And God gave me John 14:26-27. The Holy Spirit reminded me of the verse about the Holy Spirit reminding us of what He has said to us. My friend would answer her own questions with truths from Scripture, and that was the Holy Spirit with her. It was like He was telling her, “Maybe you can’t feel me right now, but that doesn’t mean I’m not here. Maybe you can’t pray, but you don’t have to, I will.” And by reminding her of the truths she knows, He proved that He is with her, even in this terrible place.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

As we hide God’s word in our hearts and seek Him every day, He meets us. Our smallest turn toward Him is met by His running, joyful acceptance. How He longs to be with us!

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.” (Isaiah 30:18)

Do not forget today that God is with you. He is Emmanuel, God with us. Whether it’s the best day of your life, or the worst, He is there. And that makes all the difference.

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