by Ann Elaine Broughton

“If you love me, you will do what I command. And I will ask the Father and he will send you another Counselor to be with you ---- the Spirit of truth” (John 14:15-16 NIV).

Change can be very scary, but in life it is inevitable. From the time we are born, we are constantly changing. But, most people have difficulty dealing with it in life. We want everything to go along the same as always. When change does occur, we have tendency to fight it.

I have to admit, that as I get older, change is tougher. The grocery store that I shop at has decided to change all of their stock around. They moved everything to different aisles. Now when I go to a grocery store, which I consider no fun at all, I want to get in there and out as fast as possible. Needless to say, I wasn’t too happy to see what they were doing. I am thinking it is just not me who felt this way, because I heard many people grumbling about it, and many of them were wandering around the store with a glazed look in their eyes like a deer in headlights. Luckily, they had stationed their help out in the middle aisle to direct people. That was a smart move. I don’t know why stores do this. At least they should have warned us a week in advance that it was happening.

Before Jesus was crucified, He gave his disciples a pep talk because He knew the change that was coming for them would be earth shaking. He knew it would be difficult for them to watch Him suffer and die. He also knew that they would need extra help to accomplish what God expected them to do after His leaving. So Jesus tried to comfort them and told them that He would send the Holy Spirit to them to teach them. (John 14:26) He wanted them to know that He wasn’t leaving them without assistance.

You see we too have the Holy Spirit within us to help us through any change that comes our way in life. He will give us peace when we feel peace is impossible to find. God knew that we would need the Holy Spirit to aid us in times of stress. That is why He provided the Counselor to all those who believe in Him. “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23 NIV). You see you have Christ in you, and He will help you handle the changes in your life.

Dear Lord,

We know that change is difficult, but it happens all the time. Help us to rely on the Holy Spirit to gain strength to handle it and accept it knowing you will be with us.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen