Christians are usually pictured as people who walk around with a smile permanently plastered on their faces. While this may be true to a certain extent, Christians are still prone to bouts of depression or down times. Even the disciples after Jesus' death suffered through a period where they thought their life was in jeopardy. Then Jesus returned and things changed.
Jesus told them he had to return to His father, but he also told them,” you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” In Acts chapter 2, as the disciples were huddled in the upper room, “tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit,” just as Jesus had promised.
The presence of the Holy Spirit helped the disciples to proclaim the message of God throughout the rest of their lives. Today, when a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit comes to reside in each believer to act as a, guide, teacher, comforter and more. The problem is there are many Christians who forget they are filled up and ready to go for the Lord's service.
They seek to try and muddle along on their own accord all the while tripping over rocks and stumbling as they walk the path of life. In times of great distress or fear or when the world come crashing, they turn to their own resources which almost always end in failure. This can lead to periods where there closeness to God wavers and bouts of loneliness can overwhelm even the most seasoned Christian.
Even the disciples had times when they faltered but they also learned and remembered to always fix their eyes on God and to rely on the Holy Spirit, to help set their foot on firm ground. No athlete prepares alone, there is a coach who helps prepare them and train them for the rigors of their sport.
No Christian should try to live their lives, without their coach, the Holy Spirit who helps each Christian to win the race which is set before them. He is there alongside shouting in each heart, “Come on, get up and keep running, you have the power of God on your side,” and the truth of His word to claim.
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