Why You Are Not Alone Unless You Choose To

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, November 2, 2021

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth …but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; …

John 14:16-18 (NKJV)

Perhaps the most painful experience a child can undergo is to lose a parent or both parents. There are times I feel sad when I remember both my late parents yet I have children of my own. How much more painful is it for younger orphans?

Loneliness can be painful. The feeling that you are alone and have no one who is directly responsible over you is not desirable. However, when you know you have a close relative or friend who watches over you, you feel relieved to a certain extent. 

Jesus had lived with his disciples for over three years. To them, He was a Father and friend. He had attended to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. When many disciples abandoned Him, Jesus asked the remaining ones, “Do you also want to go away?” (John 6:67).

But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:68-69).

Time for Departure

Jesus was a present feature in the lives of His followers. However, the day was fast approaching when He would have to leave. He did not want to leave them as orphans. He would continue living among and within them but in a different form.

Jesus gave a powerful and comforting promise to His disciples:

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. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:15-18).

Yes, we are not alone. Jesus still dwells with us through His Holy Spirit. Unlike when He lived on earth, Jesus now lives inside us. He can be at all places at all times. Jesus is nearer us than even before because He dwells in our hearts.

You are not alone because the teacher, physician, provider, protector and leader of Peter and his colleagues is ever-present in your life. However, as Luke 11:13 states, you must ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. He will grant your request.

Are you alone? Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?

Holy Spirit, I welcome you into my life today and every day.