The disciples had direct access to Jesus. He guided them, taught them, loved and comforted them, and even corrected them. It’s so easy to see why they would be discouraged at the thought of Jesus having to leave their side for any reason, but especially to die. They left everything for him. They left everything that was familiar for the unfamiliar. The left their comfort for a life of persecution and societal ridicule. And now, their leader was leaving them alone. But Jesus said something interesting in John 14:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
— John 14:15–17

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still 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 that I have said to you.”
— John 14:25–26

Jesus said that he would ask the Father to send us another Helper to be within us, who will teach us all things and help us remember all that Jesus taught. Essentially, the Holy Spirit is our live-in guide. Our forever teacher. How incredible is that? He is here to help us along the way. So, as believers, we actually have greater access to the Holy Spirit than the disciples had to Jesus! How? Because the Spirit is always with us.

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
— Ephesians 1:13–14

So, not only is the Holy Spirit here to guide, remind and teach us, he is here to give us hope! He is here to give us a promise of the inheritance we will one day acquire. How amazing is God? He doesn’t just give us an inheritance. He also doesn’t want us to forget that we have it! Wow.

Imagine struggling financially, day after day. Imagine not knowing if your income would cover your expenses, as it doesn’t most months. Then a man comes along one day, seemingly out of nowhere, and tells you that he will pay off your debt. He proceeds to tell you that he may or may not take you out of your current financial struggle, but that he’d be there to give you guidance along the way. He also tells you that, one day, the struggle will be over. There will be no debt, no bills, no worry. No struggle. Just bliss. Wouldn’t the thought of that glorious day bring you hope and joy amidst your struggle? Wouldn’t it almost be silly not to be okay with the trial if one day all of your struggles would cease to exist forever?

This is but one gift from our Heavenly Father. He gives us a forever teacher, comforter and promise. What a good, good Father!

So let us be a church that takes advantage of this gift. Let us tap into that guidance and heed his correction. Let us cling to the hope he provides. Let us move with confidence, knowing that he is always in us.

God, would your Spirit overwhelm us? Would you teach us how to recognize his guidance? Would we be able to discern your ways over ours?