By Jo Price
I can be guilty of being a bit Enid Blyton about my relationship with the Holy Spirit some times… we’re fine when life is ‘frightfully splendid’, but when I let things get the better of me I want to sulk like George from the Famous Five (for those of you who are not Enid fans George is headstrong by nature, with a hot fiery temper)
At my best, I know the Biblical truth that “I am set apart” and “free from sin”; engaging in a relationship with the Holy Spirit that brings about transformation – both personal and Kingdom. But what about those days when those thoughts are far from mind? When I feel fatigued by a never ending to do list, overwhelmed by others needs, consumed by emotion, exhausted by children. It’s at times like this I am most George like and am in danger of becoming introspective and trying to do things in my own strength.
I know that it is in these moments I should, even more so, be beckoning the Holy Spirit into my thoughts, emotions, or situations. However, when I find it a struggle to look at myself in the mirror it can often feel too hard to welcome God into the situation. It can seem easier to shy away from relationship than to invite the Holy Spirit into my dark thoughts and engage in transforming them.
Probably the most fabulous thing about the Holy Spirit is that God gave Him to us to help us in the ‘now but not yet’ gap, before Jesus comes again. Some Bible translations literally call the Holy Spirit a ‘helper’. God intends us to have a daily relationship with the Holy Spirit. We should call on His help both when times are good, and on those days when “we see in a mirror dimly” and only “know in part”.
There’s more. The ‘help’ of the Holy Spirit isn’t just comfort and encouragement on days where life hurts and we can’t see beyond our own dull realities. He actively transforms, renews, purifies, and strengthens us. He does deep healing work inside us, touching those invisible scars that wreak such tangible havoc in our lives. He takes our ashes and turns them to things of beauty. He takes our ugly habits and loves the ugly right out of them. In short, He helps us become the person God intended us to be.
I can see transformation in my own life in the area of being less George like. When chatting about this with my husband, he said: “you don’t get angry now like to used to when we were first married”. Reflecting on this I can honestly say this isn’t something that has happened in my own strength. I can truly see how the helper has been at work in me as I have journeyed with God to understand the strength of my emotions and what to do with these.
Our friend Enid once wrote: “The best way to treat obstacles is to use them as stepping-stones. Laugh at them, tread on them, and let them lead you to something better.” Put this in the context of a living relationship with the Holy Spirit and there is some great wisdom there.