Goodbyes
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.”
John 14:1
This is a week of goodbyes. On Sunday my friend said her final goodbye to her sister who died of cancer. She had had a long time to prepare for this sad parting. It is also the end of the school year and many are leaving for long summer vacations back in their homelands. These are happy partings knowing that we will be together again, God willing, in a few weeks.
This morning we are going to the airport to bid farewell to our dear Rwandan friend and his two delightful teenagers. This is a sad parting for us – losing such a dear and faithful servant of the Lord who has been such a blessing in our church family, but there is much joy that his refugee status of many years is about to change with his immigration to his new homeland.
Tomorrow we say goodbye to our home of 4 years which has been a gift from God to us and to those who have stayed with us. And then my friend had to say goodbye to her precious “Lappy Cat” who was old and sick. Yes, definitely a week of goodbyes.
As I was reading the last few chapters of John’s gospel I saw Jesus saying goodbye to his disciples, preparing them for his departure from this earth. They had mixed emotions but I think the biggest was confusion. They thought his kingdom was to be here on earth but now he tells them that he is leaving and they are to be the ones to carry out his work. They didn’t feel ready and they certainly didn’t want to say goodbye to this man who was their friend, their teacher, their mentor. No, they were not ready to say goodbye.
Jesus was not unaware of their lack of readiness and he gave them the wonderful promise that he would send the Holy Spirit to them who would be their teacher, counselor, guide, comforter. He would be all they would need to continue life and ministry without him.
The Holy Spirit was not only for the disciples but for every believer for all time. He is also there for us to lead and guide, to teach, to counsel and to comfort. What a wonderful gift. He is there for us constantly but often it’s in the most painful times that he becomes most real to us. When our need is great, especially in those times of saying goodbye, he is there to comfort, strengthen and bring peace.
Do you need to experience his help in some way today? Is there a goodbye, a trial, a need for direction or counsel that you have? You don’t need to struggle alone, just invite him to make himself real to you. He waits for your invitation.
Prayer: Come Holy Spirit; come with your comfort, your wisdom, your teaching. I receive your presence and I thank you Father for your wonderful provision for me. Amen
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.”
John 14:1
This is a week of goodbyes. On Sunday my friend said her final goodbye to her sister who died of cancer. She had had a long time to prepare for this sad parting. It is also the end of the school year and many are leaving for long summer vacations back in their homelands. These are happy partings knowing that we will be together again, God willing, in a few weeks.
This morning we are going to the airport to bid farewell to our dear Rwandan friend and his two delightful teenagers. This is a sad parting for us – losing such a dear and faithful servant of the Lord who has been such a blessing in our church family, but there is much joy that his refugee status of many years is about to change with his immigration to his new homeland.
Tomorrow we say goodbye to our home of 4 years which has been a gift from God to us and to those who have stayed with us. And then my friend had to say goodbye to her precious “Lappy Cat” who was old and sick. Yes, definitely a week of goodbyes.
As I was reading the last few chapters of John’s gospel I saw Jesus saying goodbye to his disciples, preparing them for his departure from this earth. They had mixed emotions but I think the biggest was confusion. They thought his kingdom was to be here on earth but now he tells them that he is leaving and they are to be the ones to carry out his work. They didn’t feel ready and they certainly didn’t want to say goodbye to this man who was their friend, their teacher, their mentor. No, they were not ready to say goodbye.
Jesus was not unaware of their lack of readiness and he gave them the wonderful promise that he would send the Holy Spirit to them who would be their teacher, counselor, guide, comforter. He would be all they would need to continue life and ministry without him.
The Holy Spirit was not only for the disciples but for every believer for all time. He is also there for us to lead and guide, to teach, to counsel and to comfort. What a wonderful gift. He is there for us constantly but often it’s in the most painful times that he becomes most real to us. When our need is great, especially in those times of saying goodbye, he is there to comfort, strengthen and bring peace.
Do you need to experience his help in some way today? Is there a goodbye, a trial, a need for direction or counsel that you have? You don’t need to struggle alone, just invite him to make himself real to you. He waits for your invitation.
Prayer: Come Holy Spirit; come with your comfort, your wisdom, your teaching. I receive your presence and I thank you Father for your wonderful provision for me. Amen
posted by Daydrops For You at
11:51 PM
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