Find comfort in Him

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

John 14:1

John chapter fourteen brings the comfort to the disciples through Him, from the Father, and with the introduction of the Holy Spirit. John 14:1 reads: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. Depression and anxiety may at times lead to troubled hearts. Here, though, John reminds you of the words that He spoke to bring you comfort. Believing in God, believe also in Him. When He says "My Father's house has many rooms" (John 14:2) He is welcoming and preparing others to see that there is room at home with Him and the Father. His use of the word "prepare" (John 14:2) is significant in that He was just previously washing the feet of the disciple in John 13, and now He is sharing with them that He is going to a place to prepare for them a space alongside Him and with the Father, the Father that they know because of their ancestors. And here He is telling them, that they can know the Father because they know Him.

Depression and anxiety might leave you empty and lost; in the moment and also once the moment has passed and you are beyond the symptoms. John chapter fourteen is the introduction of the Holy Spirit. It is the comforting from Him that, although He will be gone, the disciples will surely not be alone. While depression and anxiety may leave you to believe that you are alone, this chapter brings the truth that through Him, with Him, and in Him, His believers are never alone. He has sent to you the Holy Spirit to always be with you.The symptoms of depression and anxiety may lead you to believe that the Holy Spirit has left you. The symptoms of depression and anxiety may lead you to believe that you are not worthy of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Depression and anxiety do not hold the authority of the Holy Spirit. He does. The Father does. And while it may feel that the Holy Spirit is gone, in the midst of the experiences of depression and anxiety, find comfort in the words that He spoke: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever--the Spirit of truth (John 14:16-17).

Again John reminds you of the words He spoke: Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27). He shares this just following the "peace" that He leaves with the disciples and gives to them (John 14:27). He says that this peace is given not as the world gives but as He gives. This offering of peace is given to the disciples, in that through them and the coming of His rising the peace can be spread out to others. It is not given as the world gives, it is given as He gives. And He gives truthfully, honestly, and without taking it back. He does not give this peace and then request it back when times are difficult. In fact He gives it for those times, as evident by His reminder just after this offering of peace, "do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." In this statement it provides two comforts, that trouble will come but to not let it trouble your heart and to not be afraid. These two comforts are the strength that you may need to get through those trials known to you as depression and anxiety. Do not let depression and anxiety trouble your heart, and do not be afraid.

Scripture:

John 14

John 14:1

John 14:2

John 14:3

John 14:16-17

John 14:27

Questions:

What keeps your heart troubled during times of depression and anxiety?

What fears do you have about depression and anxiety?

How does His peace comfort these troubles and fears?

What keeps you from leaning on this peace in these times?

How are you filled with the Holy Spirit?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, it is through your son that we come to know you. Lord, the advocate of the Holy Spirit is one that I am so grateful for. As humans who experience trials and tribulations, troubles of the heart and fears, I am thankful that the Holy Spirit is with me. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit is a comfort from you and your son to be reminders of the Love that was shown and the love that is offered. Heavenly Father I ask and pray that the Holy Spirit be with those today and forever. I ask and pray that the Holy Spirit be a flame of light in the darkness that some are experiencing currently, are coming out of, or are headed into, and I ask that those who are heading into the darkness can see the light of your son. I pray that depression and anxiety become more manageable and less frequent in the lives that it has entered. I pray that through you, your son, and the Holy Spirit, that hope and peace may fill those spaces in the ones who need it most. I ask this in your son's name. Amen.