“Pain does not have the final word but is transformed by the abiding presence of God.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – February 8, 2025
When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say. Luke 12:11-12, NIV
I’ve lived much of my adult life as a worrier. Though Scripture tells us again and again not to worry, learning to live by this command has been a great struggle and one that requires daily attentiveness and intentionality in submitting my fears and concerns to the Lord. In truth, I believe my worries are rooted in a perceived need to control circumstances and situations. If a child is out late at an event, somehow I feel as though my worrying and contemplating every possible situation is somehow exerting control over the situation and, therefore, limiting the chance that anything negative might happen to them. Of course, it sounds silly when laid out like this, yet these are the very real emotions that swirl around in our hearts and minds.
Our lives are filled with moments of great difficulty and challenge. This is the unavoidable reality of life. Though the details will be unique to you and your story, we all will face financial challenges, health battles, relational tensions, and unforeseen tragedies. If we take the time to try to absorb and reflect upon a lifetime’s worth of trial, it’s simply more than anyone can bear. It is for good reason that our Lord tells us, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).
And while the stories of our lives contain these great challenges and trials, they also contain daily encounters with the living God which heal our deepest wounds and transcend our greatest struggles. Pain does not have the final word but is transformed by the abiding presence of God. I do not know what my future holds, but I know that the Lord will be with me in it. Like Jesus reminds his disciples in Luke 12, when they find themselves in a difficult situation, there is no need to worry, “for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time.”
There are lessons the Holy Spirit longs to teach us as our lives unfold. He does not simply give us all the knowledge we’ll ever need as a single deposit. No, he teaches in the moment, revealing his eternal wisdom and truth as we encounter life’s various joys and challenges. He is always with us and is always teaching us through whatever we may face in that moment. Let us, therefore, learn to receive every season and situation, even those that bring with them pain and sorrow, as an opportunity to learn from the Spirit of God, who is with us wherever we go.
Prayer
Father, teach us today what we need to know, trusting that your Spirit is with us and that in your presence, there is nothing to fear. Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.
Application
What is the Spirit teaching you that you need to know at this time?
Related Reading
Exodus 4:12; Isaiah 50:4; Matthew 10:19-20
Worship Resource
Matt Maher ft. Chris Brown: In the Room
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