Welcome to the Chaplain’s Road!
Today’s road we will travel on is Isaiah 41:13.
“I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” This verse covers a lot of roads, so let’s dig deep and see where it take us.
In most cases when we travel on the road, we travel with someone in the passenger seat, a companion you could say. A family member, a friend, or even someone you just met, all in all, you are not alone. During this past week I shared with the residents and staff regarding Jesus as our “splendid companion.” Jesus’ closest companions were thetwelve apostles; men He trusted to share the message to all people. I try to imagine Jesus driving, traveling in a 12 seated passenger van with the apostles seated in the back having a great conversation with Him, I know I would enjoy that trip very much! But, if you travel alone as many of us have done as well, try to picture Him in your passenger seat and talk to Him, you will be amazed and blessed how that conversation will draw you closer to Him. I do when I travel alone, it gives me comfort, strength, and great hope regarding the road that He has planned for me to travel on.
The word “Companion” is referring to someone you spend time with, travel with, or keep close too. Someone you cherish and love. A person who walks closely with you in life, a deep friendship. Jesus is our “Spiritual Companion,” more than a friend, but one who created us in His image, who offers His forever presence, comfort, love, and guidance to all believers through life’s challenges.
When I referred to the words, comfort, love, joy, peace, and guidance, this creates an ever-increasing feeling of His presence, this is God’s way of drawing us closer to Him when we are at our lowest level of strength and self-esteem. You see this in
2 Corinthians 12:10 “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
By feeling His strength, we need to be fully dependent on Him by creating s space of “Quietness” – place that provides no distractions, relying on God to the fullest, no need to control or fix everything yourself. Giving it to Him creates that calming of your heart. Followed by “Confident Trust” letting go of stressful situations and choosing to believe that God is actively working in your life. Lining up your thoughts with His, understanding that He will act upon those situations in due time, trust Him, all this leads to His “strength.” By receiving His strength, you will experience His endurance to move forward.
I call this: “Persevere with Patience.” We persevere on that road before us, but with patience by allowing God to be at the helm, paving the road ahead of you.
Many times, I have read John 15 –“The True Vine and the Branches,” a story that depicts the core of our relationship with Jesus.
Jesus is the True Vine; and we are the Branches, is His way of letting us know that we cannot survive without Him. We must depend on Him and stay connected to Him like a branch stays connected to a grapevine in order to bear much fruit, as in our case, we will bear much Spiritual fruit.
John 15 symbolizes our witness, our actions, and what people visibly sees behind the scenes, as well as our chosen words as evidence, creating for us to have complete dependence on Christ for a Spiritual Life and the necessity of bearing much Spiritual fruit through a close relationship with Him.
All said, choose Jesus as your “Companion” sense that feeling of His presence through comfort, love, with confidents by connecting with Him in order for us to bear much Spiritual fruit and while nourish others as you move forward on that road that leads to eternal life with Him. PTL!
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
So, as we come to the end of this road, let’s take a moment to pause and read the most powerful promise of God’s love for us.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
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