A few years ago, I was in the waiting room at the doctor’s office when an older man in a wheelchair came in. He was sitting across the room from me and began talking out loud – to nobody in particular – and anyone who might listen. Most people ignored him.
He was questioning why God still had him in this world. Then he said, “All I ever wanted was somebody to love me.” The Holy Spirit nudged me, and I headed over and sat in the empty chair beside him, smiling, unsure what to say. It is better to let the Holy Spirit guide my words; all I had to do was be willing to go. That way, God gets all the glory.
I said, “God loves you.”
That opened a door for him to tell me more about his relationship with the Holy Spirit, whom he fondly called the Comforter. He remembered times when he sat alone with the Good Book and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit with him. He shared that he had tried to tell his dad about the Comforter, but he wouldn’t listen. I knew God put me there for a reason – to remind him of his Father’s love and to bring peace.
In explaining the Holy Spirit to the disciples before His ascension, Jesus describes Him as the Helper, whom the Father will send to bring remembrance to everything Jesus told them. He follows that promise with another – peace (John 14:25-27 English Standard Version).
When we remember what Jesus taught about how to conduct ourselves and strive to obey the Father and His will – peace follows. Paul admonishes us to stay in step with the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:25).
Still, an uncomfortableness is also associated with the Holy Spirit that comes when we are out of God’s will and away from obedience. This conviction is necessary for any true transformation in our lives and hearts. The continual process of sanctification helps us become more like Jesus.
If we are never uncomfortable, we won’t have the motivation to change. This is by the design of our Heavenly Father. It is also true for our children. In a recent group meeting, a friend and respected mentor shared his philosophy – if he teaches his kids to love Jesus and put Him first, he knows the rest will work itself out. He recommended the book Parenting by the Book by John Rosemond, which discusses making your kids uncomfortable to initiate desired character traits and positive changes. If you are a parent of a pre-teen or teenager, I highly recommend you check it out or share it with someone who is. We are not doing them any favors by not allowing them to be uncomfortable.
Faith Walk Ministries, Inc. 