“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” John. 16:12-13
In 2011, Americans took in five times as much information every day as they did in 1986. I wonder what the stats say now? Ten times as much information? I’m sure much more information is bombarding our brains now. It’s no wonder we can feel overwhelmed just managing the most basic aspects of life.
Jesus fully sympathizes with us since He experienced a human life (Hebrews 4:15-16). Jesus was speaking to his disciples about leaving, and of hard times, which made the disciples nervous and afraid (John 16:6). So, rather than overwhelm them with even more, Jesus knew when to stop. Jesus declared that he did not have enough time to say all that he would like to his followers and they would not have the ability to hear it. Then he promised a future with the Helper to guide them. “It will be just like having me around,” Jesus might as well be saying. His compassion and love never fail.
This was good news for the disciples, even though they did not fully understand Jesus, as John makes clear in 16:17-18, the last line of which is “we don’t know what he is talking about.” Giving them even more information wouldn’t have helped but confused them more.
Like the disciples, we might say we don’t understand God when life sends us curve balls. But God’s sending the Spirit of Truth doesn’t depend on our understanding. The Spirit will not be taken away from us in the challenging times when we are least able to trust, understand, or persevere. Rather he will comfort, bring peace, and restore our joy that can only come from him. That doesn’t mean we will always “feel happy” or not cry out “why” but it does mean that he will catch every tear, remind us somehow that we matter, and encourage us through Scripture and other believers. In the biggest trials and our weakest moments, we find the Lord speaking to us and the Holy Spirit directing us when we take time to listen.
Father, please help us to slow down, listen, and be sensitive to the Spirit’s direction in our lives so that we can in turn be a blessing to others.
Deb Hill
Exec. Assistant