Tsunami Devotional by Steve Keaton
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009
Title: My “Not-So” Imaginary Friend
Text: John 14:16-17 (NIV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
Have you ever known someone who has an “Imaginary” friend? My oldest son, TK, when he was just a little guy would often walk around the house and play with his friend David. David was a very quiet little boy. He didn’t cause any problems, he never made a mess and as a matter of fact you never even had a clue that David was around. But TK knew that David was there. Every once in a while TK was even sneak David into the car and take him on a trip with us. Kim and I would just go with it and sometime even chuckle a little under our breath about how silly it was. However, it was not silly to my son. Now, I feel certain that TK realized that there wasn’t some little guy who his parents couldn’t see, hanging out with him all the time. But I do believe that David was real for TK is some very powerful ways.
I can remember being a little boy, laying in my bed in a dark room at night wishing someone were with me so I wouldn’t be alone and scared in the dark. I can remember being bored and dreaming I had a friend to play with and wishing someone else was there. I can remember walking into a new school or environment where I knew no one else and praying I’d see a friendly and familiar face to make those times of transition easier. Well, TK had all of that. David was with TK late at night as he lay in his bed and a thunderstorm raged outside. David was with TK when he played “Super Heroes” in the back yard. David comforted and encouraged TK as his little hand separated from mine on the first day of kindergarten and we bravely walking into his classroom and into a whole new world. And as silly as I may have thought it was for my little boy to have an imaginary friend, I too found comfort in the fact that TK had someone with him who would never leave his side.
Well, the fact of the matter is that Jesus did that very same thing for you and me, except there is nothing imaginary about it. When Jesus knew his time on this Earth was coming to an end, he also understood that those being left behind would often face some very stressful and scary times. These events would be compounded by the fact that they knew that Jesus was no longer walking into those places with them. So Jesus hooked us all up with a “Not-So Imaginary” friend. The Holy Spirit, a part of the Trinity, was sent to fill the void left behind by our Savior as he prepares a place for all believers in Heaven. That Holy Spirit walks with us, guides us, protects us and loves us each and every second of each and every day. It is so nice to know that we never have to experience anything alone. We will never celebrate great accomplishments by ourselves. We will never face hardships by ourselves. We will not reach extraordinary milestones all alone. We will never walk through the dark valleys all alone. Our friend is with us. And even if the lost souls who wander aimlessly around us in this dark world, mock us and think we are silly for putting our faith in something they can’t see and don’t want to embrace the relationship we have, know that there is nothing imaginary about the love and presence of the Holy Spirit. Find courage in it. Find strength in it. And you never know, maybe it’ll join you on the floor and play cars. Remember, all things are possible with Christ.
Something to Think About:
- Have you ever felt all alone? What were the circumstances?
- How hard where those times when you felt you had no one with you?
- How did you make it through those experiences?
- How does the understanding that you are never truly alone change your outlook on future or current circumstances?
- Will the knowledge that The Holy Spirit is walking with you bring you more strength and confidence in the way you live your life?
A Few Minutes with God:
God, I thank you for loving me so much that you have made the promise of never leaving me alone. I thank you for the presence of Your Holy Spirit to be a part of every second of every day of my life. I pray that through this understanding that I will gain the confidence to live my life out loud and that I will bring you honor and glory through all that I do. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.
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