The Rain That Never Stops

“You may be suffering. Chances are, there’s something going on in your life causing you great distress. Something that continues to push your depression further. Can I just ask you to close your eyes and take a breath? It’s going to be okay. You’re going to be okay. It all works out in the end—according to His will. We are not always called to understand, but we’re always called to trust. When you place your trust in Christ, understanding that He bore the suffering that His people deserved and believe in Him for eternal life, then you have peace with God and freedom from the power of suffering and depression; then you are able to find the same inward renewal that Paul speaks about, though your outer-self wastes away.

Suffering in this life is inevitable, but it is not forever. There will come a time when God rights every wrong, wipes every tear, and destroys sin and death forever, giving His people peace forevermore (see Revelation 21:4). A time when we can be in the perfect presence of our Lord who came to call sinners to Himself through His atoning sacrifice (Mark 2:17). And despite suffering in this life, we are never alone.

In John 16, Jesus is telling His disciples about His departure. Naturally, they are a bit confused and upset about this news. Jesus encourages them and tells them that He must go so that He can send the Spirit, whom Christ calls the Helper, who will be with every believer, providing truth and comfort to them (John 16:5-7). Christ speaks of the Spirit as Helper earlier in John’s gospel as well (John 14:16, 26; 15:26). The King James Version of the Bible translates the Greek word, parakletos, as Comforter, one who aids us and is with us (the prefix “para” means next to or side-by-side). The Spirit lives within believers, guides them, convicts them, conforms them to Christ, sanctifies them, and comforts them in their sorrows and tribulations, reminding them to not lose hope. For as Christ Himself said to His disciples, “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), so too does the Spirit testify.

Take heart in Christ, beloved. Though your suffering in this world may be long, Christ has overcome it.”