John 14:23-27
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone
who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear
are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
This is probably the time of year I dread the most. No, not winter. Winter I actually enjoy. No, the time of year I dread the most is tax time. Taxes are an unfortunate part of life. Even Jesus paid taxes, and in one instance had help from a fish.
Just the same, every year, the same fears assail me. Will I make a mistake on my taxes? Will I owe money? Will I owe more than I can afford? And so on and so forth. The peace I generally have little trouble grasping, suddenly flees like an elusive wisp of fog.
But then, I force myself to take a deep breath and call on the One who has always been faithful and little miracles happen; like the check I found locked in my safe yesterday that will pay for an eye doctor appointment, or the check that a kindly gentleman at church always gives to my wife and I every Christmas, or an encouraging word from a friend when I'm feeling the most lost.
this weekend is the ninth year for the annual men's retreat of the Bible Fellowship Church of Terre Hill. I've been there every year, and this year I have the privilege of sharing the blessing with my son. And there's another worry on the list; will my son embrace all the things I've tried to show him, or will they be forgotten whenever the road gets difficult?
This I know and have found to be true; God is faithful. Even when things seem at their darkest and even when I cannot see the road ahead, He has always been there and has always made a way. I look back on all the dark times in my life and every single time, He has brought me through, perhaps bruised, and perhaps crawling on my knees, but always into the Light.
There is no time so dark that the Spirit of God cannot give us light; no pit so deep that He cannot reach in and pull us out.
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