IF YOU ARE A BELIEVER AND FEELING ALONE, YOU ARE NOT

SCRIPTURE:
So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:  
‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.  
(Zechariah 4:6)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever looked at a situation in your life 
and wondered how you would manage to get through it, or even survive it?
You exhausted all of the possibilities for survival that you could think of, 
but none of them gave you the assurance you needed.
You may have even solicited the advice of friends or family, 
but none of them gave you the confidence you needed.

When this happens, you can develop a sense of panic,
as you feel the pressure of what appears to be a hopeless situation.
At the end of the tribulation, you are relieved to see that you did survive,
but what could have made it a little easier for you?

If you are a believer, 
you always have the Spirit of the Lord (Holy Spirit) with you.
Before Jesus was crucified, He promised 
that believers would receive the Holy Spirit once He was resurrected.
In fact, He said 
this would serve as confirmation that He had been resurrected.

Obviously, the Holy Spirit has been provided for our benefit.
He is there to give us strength and to encourage us during difficult times.
The problem is, many of us are so focused on the trial we are facing 
that we fail to call on Him to sustain us.

After the crucifixion the stressed out disciples despaired and said, 
“We had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21). 
There was anguish, despair, and tragedy in their midst. 
Life had lost its meaning and purpose. 
But when the resurrection became apparent, life took on a new meaning. 
It had purpose and reason.

Life can have new meaning for us as well 
when we remember the words of Jesus:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name 
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to 
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, 
to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
We are to share the “good news” with others (freely sharing what He has 
done for us), and find comfort in knowing that He is with us at all times.

ACTION:
If you start feeling the pressures of life, 
never forget that the Lord’s Spirit is with you.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your gift of the Holy Spirit. You know the 
pressures and stresses of life that are in my path. Whenever I enter a new 
tribulation period, remind me to call on the Holy Spirit to come to my 
rescue and help me to survive the trial without the trauma of those who do 
not know You as their Lord and Savior. Give me the boldness and courage to 
share how You have changed my life, and the benefits of knowing You. Because
of You, I am never alone.”