Many young children love having close to them a soft toy, a doll or a special ‘blankee’. This item is their comforter or security and they are at peace within themselves while closely associated with this special item.
But, for whatever reason, if this ‘comforter’ is ever misplaced, the child becomes extremely upset and cannot be calmed until it is found and is once more in their possession. While the searching process can be most frustrating for all members of the family, the child will know no peace until they are reunited with their special ‘comforter.’
Among the final words Jesus said to His disciples before returning to The Father 40 days after His Resurrection were: “Know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.” He had also told them this on the night before He died. If our God makes a promise like this, who are we to dispute it?
Knowing the disciples would find it difficult to set about the task of taking his message of love to the world, Jesus told them to wait together for the ‘Comforter,’ the Holy Spirit to come to them. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled them with power and enthusiasm which was all they needed to commence the mission for which they had been prepared.
Had the Holy Spirit not fired up the disciples at Pentecost, heaven knows how we might be floundering around in the dark today trying to find the meaning of life, or for that matter, why we even exist.
We don’t have to go it alone in this world as Jesus, part of the Divine Presence, is constantly there for us. Why worry and be anxious as we attempt to control our own lives, when the Divine Presence of Father, Son and Holy Spirit is offering us the peace and security we need.
If we have doubts about our ability to reach out to this Divine Presence Jesus has promised, a simple prayer to the same Holy Spirit that energised the disciples, ‘Come Holy Spirit,’ could be all we need to say.
It is through our faith and our trust in this Holy Presence we will be comforted, just as a little child would be when their lost security soft toy or ‘comforter’ is found.
I’m Peter Mack and that’s faith.