Cherish Holy Spirit

For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.  Hebrews 4:15-16 NET

As Holy Spirit resides within us, He tells us that Jesus Christ is with us, on our side, present and helping, when life is going well and when its in turmoil. It is in “our weaknesses” that Jesus comes alongside us, not with cool and detached pity but with depth of felt solidarity.  And it is even deeper than that. In our pain, Jesus is pained; in our suffering, He feels the suffering as His own, His heart is feelingly drawn into our distress. 

His human nature engages our troubles comprehensively. His is a love that cannot be held back when He sees His people in pain.  Therefore we must not hold back in our pursuit of Him. Follow Him. Cherish Him. Trust Him. Love Him. Chase Him. 

The word of God takes us by the hand and leads us deep into the heart of Christ, showing us the unrestrained witness of Jesus regarding His people. 

And the reason that Jesus is in such close solidarity with us is that the difficult path we are on is not unique to us. 

He has journeyed on it Himself. It is not only that Jesus can relieve us from our troubles, like a doctor prescribing medicine; it is also that, before any relief comes, He is with us in our troubles. 

Consider your own life. When the relationship goes sour, when the feelings of futility come flooding in, when it feels like life is passing us by, when it seems that our one shot at significance has slipped through our fingers, when we can’t sort out our emotions, when the longtime friend lets us down, when a family member betrays us, when we feel deeply misunderstood, when we are laughed at by the impressive—

In short, when the fallenness of the world closes in on us and makes us want to throw in the towel—there, right there, we have a Friend who knows exactly what such testing feels like, and sits close to us, embraces us. Jesus. 

And I know it can be our tendency to feel that the more difficult life gets, the more alone we are. As we sink further into pain, we sink further into perceived isolation. The Bible corrects us. God. Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit. He is with us. Our pain never outstrips what He Himself shares in. No, we are never alone.