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Life in the Holy Spirit An Empowerment Bible Study © 2003 by Terry A. Modica |
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Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
The joy of loss
In John 16:5-11, Jesus said to His disciples, "Because I told you I'm going back to Him who sent Me, grief has filled your hearts."
We're afraid of loss. It's very unpleasant, and yet, it's the only way to move forward in our relationship with God. It's a dark hallway that leads us from the past to the future, from one stage of spiritual growth to a higher level, from discipleship as a student of Jesus to apostleship as a messenger of the Holy Spirit.
Loss hurts because it's painful to be separated from what used to be. We'd rather cling to what's familiar. We cling to the past so that we don't have to move forward into unknown territory. We cling to our own ideas of what our lives should be like so that we won't risk disaster in the unknowable outcomes of life's challenges.
Jesus said, "But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go." It is better because it's the only way the Holy Spirit comes. We must let go of the familiar in order to experience the greater gift that God has in mind next. We have to move on to move up.
Our decisions either hold us back or move us forward, always impacting our lives and also the lives of uncountable others. God cares about you and me individually; He is always implementing a wise plan for our individual benefit, but not just for us. God works for the benefit of everyone who's involved in each difficult situation we're struggling through. Therefore, when we refuse to travel from the old to the new, we not only prevent ourselves from discovering more of God's awesome love, we also get in the way of God's love for others.
The Holy Spirit gives us help and comfort when we pass through our losses, but only if we accept the help instead of cursing the changes. Then we can grieve with joy. Huh? That sounds like a contradiction! Well, look at how Paul and Silas handled their imprisonment (in Acts 16:22-34). Surely they grieved when they were arrested, when their wounds throbbed, when their chains locked them in the darkness of the cold prison. Yet, in their trust for the Lord's love, they were able to sing joyful praise. The result: The power of the Holy Spirit shook the very foundations of the prison and freed them.
In the Holy Spirit's love, no matter what's imprisoning us, we can sing hymns such as Psalm 138:1-8: "Your right hand saves me, O Lord." (In biblical terms, the "right hand" means the power of God.)
Try it! Praise God so greatly that it shakes your world.
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See also Holy Living: A Bible Study covering the Sermon on the Mount.
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