In John 16:7 “Jesus tells us the truth… it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” Jesus had been trying to prepare the disciples that He was going to leave them but they could not understand the events that were about to take place. He knew that they needed comfort because in John 14:1 He said to them, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”
God knows our hearts and that we all have the tendency to let fear, anxiety, and worry rule in troubled and vulnerable times during our lives. The role of the helper that He was going to send us was to help, comfort, support, teach and lead us into all truth. Jesus' heart toward us was that if we knew the truth, He knew that truth would set us free, John 8:38. Jesus said in John 16:26, ”But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to you remembrance all that I said to you.”
The Greek word for helper is “paracletos” which means one called alongside to help; or comforter; advocate, or intercessor. A paraclete is someone who can do something for you that you cannot do for yourself. The same Greek word is used in John 2:1, ”My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate (gk. Paracletos) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” What a comfort for believers to know that we have the Holy Spirit of God who comes to our side to help us and comforts us in whatever life situation we may find ourselves in. Hebrews 13:5-6 "…He himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid.” God understands our hearts and that we are prone to fear, and he wants to comfort us with the truth that He is always with us no matter what life has thrown our way.
By: John Padgett
This devotional piece was written by a staff member of HisHighPlaces.Org. We are a Christ-based non-profit Counseling Intensive Ministry. Our clients are seen by counselors whose “heart cry” is to “show broken people HOPE and to be encouraged that they are LOVED, VALUED, and that each one has a future and purpose with GOD. We do not do group therapy. We do individualized and couple sessions with the Counselors.