Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace
to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
Series: His Name is Jesus
Noise is everywhere, but sometimes the silence is what’s truly deafening. When you face troubles, discouragement, loneliness, grief, or exhaustion, the stillness rings so loud that catching your breath feels impossible. In those quiet moments, your thoughts may take you to places you never meant to dwell. When the problem isn’t something you can solve, the heartache isn’t something you can heal, or the lack of resolution weighs heavily upon you, what is your next move?
We might find momentary solutions or even develop coping mechanisms to get us through a day or two, but we need so much more. When silence is suffocating, we need to be anchored in the Hope and comfort of Jesus.
If you know Jesus as your Savior, you may already recognize Him as your Comforter. If you haven’t met Jesus, we urge you to read this message with an open heart as we share with you His promise for walking you through these types of challenging circumstances. In every painful situation, you can turn to Him for help, guidance, and most of all, comfort.
The idea of comfort shows at least two parties are in play: one who brings comfort, and one who receives it. Comfort isn’t only a physical need but a spiritual need as well. We learned the importance of this from Jesus when it was time for Him to end His earthly ministry and return to Heaven with His Father. He assured the disciples (and He assures us) that He would not leave them alone to walk through life. Jesus taught in John 14:15-17, 25-27 (ESV):
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
In each of these passages of scripture, the word “Helper” appears. Jesus was offering a great encouragement to the disciples and future believers as well. In His absence, God would send another in His place—The Holy Spirit, the Helper and Comforter. The Greek translation for the word helper is paraklētos. The meaning for this is “one to be called to the side of another.”
When we trust in Jesus as our Savior, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Whether we need counsel, support, or comfort, He is always by our side. Once received, His Holy Spirit never leaves us. His grace seals us and we are adopted as His own. The enemy cannot snatch us away because we are children of the Most High God!
His Holy Spirit, dwelling within us, is how we decipher and understand the scriptures, find peace for our souls, and experience our deepest strength.
We find even more Hope as we search further in scripture. Paul teaches this truth in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV):
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
Paul reminds us that God comforts His children and we can know peace even in the midst of all types of trials. His comfort comes in many ways. We receive comfort in His Word—His promises are listed throughout scripture. We experience His encouragement through fellow believers, as Paul shared. God provides this powerful comfort for us so that we too will be able to help others in their time of need. How wonderful and powerful is that?
Let us remember the words David wrote in Psalm 34:18 (ESV):
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Friends, if you are discouraged, He strengthens you. If you are grief-stricken, He holds you. If you are confused, He directs your path. In the midst of your hardest seasons or darkest moments, He lights the way, restores what is broken, and forever remains by your side. Seek Him today.
His saving grace awaits you, even in the silence. Hallelujah!
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Hebrews 4:16; John 14:15-17, 25-27; John 15, 16; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; Psalm 23, 34:18; 119; John 3:16-17;
Jeremiah 29:13; Ephesians 1:13