Lord Help Me! The Helper

"But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counsellor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you." John 14:26 (Amplified)

The Holy Spirit’s Comfort Reveals God’s Compassion

We all face pressures and moments in our lives when we come to the end of ourselves and all we can pray is “Help, Lord!”. When we reach out to God in those moments there is no one closer or more willing to help.  God’s help comes in the form of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is fully God, omniscient, able to be fully present with each of us all at once.  He is not a notion but a person who can be reached.

If we take a little time to still our spirit in difficult moments we can hear the voice of our God, “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).  He can be drowned out by the internal dialogue of our worries but is always available. God’s word brings us comfort (Psalm 119:50).

The fact that the Holy Spirit is our comforter, counsellor and intercessor reveals the love, mercy and compassion of God.  Many times in the gospels, Jesus was moved with compassion and He brought comfort through His tears and then often performed a miracle to ease the pain of the person who was suffering or in need.

God’s Comfort Restores Hope

The Holy Spirit is described as our helper, the “paraclete” or “one who comes alongside”.  When we are at the end of ourselves and ask for His help, He prays through us and for us (Romans 8:26-27).  It is like having a lawyer pleading our case before God.  He strengthens and empowers us in times of trouble.

Where you look for help in a crisis is important. Our natural tendency can be to look around (horizontally). The Psalmist (Psalm 121:1) looks up when troubles come but we need to look higher than the hills: we need to look up to God (vertically).

Our brains can become trained to expect the worst outcome through movies and books full of conflict. The Bible tells us to rejoice even in the midst of troubles and avoid a sombre Christianity. God does not want us to be anxious about the future but have hope, as He, “the God of hope” (Romans 15:13) helps us through difficult times.

With God's Helper Others Are Comforted Through Us

The Holy Spirit is a helper not a hired worker.  When you ask Him for help, He will not come and do what you are supposed to be doing.  He is like the power steering to assist you when you start to move forward.  Just like in a car, if you stay in one place, the power steering doesn’t engage.

When you allow the Holy Spirit to empower you in difficult times, it will help and encourage those around you to ask for God’s help for themselves.  Bringing God’s power to others has no formula, only love like the compassion Jesus showed to us.

Put faith into those around you. Remind them that Jesus said we can take part in great things if we have faith. Pass on the comfort and hope given to you by God in the midst of trouble (2 Corinthians 1:3-11).

Something to talk about:

1. Share some of the things you do to seek God’s help on hard days and counteract our natural tendencies to look around or listen to worries instead.
2. What are some of the ways or words the Holy Spirit has empowered you with when you’ve been in trouble?
3. How have other people helped you to have faith in difficult moments?