"He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might, he increases their strength." Isaiah 40:29

Our Savior does not wait on the other side of the storm. He comes into our winter with us. When John 14:18 says, “I will not leave you comfortless,” it is worth noting that the word for comfortless in the original language, actually means orphans. He is promising not to leave us abandoned, lonely, or forgotten. He is promising presence.

It is tangible in every sense. We spiritually "taste" his presence, and "see" that He is good (Psalm 34:8). His Spirit testifies of His goodness, and His fruits. His kindness, mercy, and love, speak clearly on behalf of the Father. He always points us to the Heavenly Father, reflecting His love, justice, and perfect will. In every interaction, in every moment of comfort or guidance, we witness Christ making the presence and character of our Father, tangible in our hearts and souls.

He truly is the light and the warmth in the storm, inviting us to lean on Him, trust Him, and let Him carry us when we are weak. The hard times drag on, the air feels sharp, and yet He is there. The light in the midst of the cold is not the sun. It is Him. He wraps His own robe around us, pulling us into His warmth and presence. Even more, He turns the winter into spring. The cold and desolation of our trials, do not remain. He brings growth, renewal, and hope. As soon as we focus on him, what felt frozen, becomes fertile, and what felt lifeless, blooms under His care.

For anyone feeling alone, cold, or abandoned, cling to this promise. He is not waiting for the storm to pass. He is with you now. He is with you in the middle of it, and He will never abandon you. With Him, the season of struggle can become a season of growth and new life.

As I look through my Bible this morning, I found a couple verses I thought you might like. They are such a comfort when we're not feeling good, so I thought I'd share a couple of them with you. I especially love this first one:

"The Lord forsakes not his saints." Psalm 37:28.

Wow! What a great scripture of hope and comfort!

You know, some see Saints as only holy ones in heaven. However, the Bible describes Saints as any person who has accepted Jesus into their heart and life, as Savior. That's me and you. And I think that verse is so beautiful. Jesus didn't leave us to guess! He's telling us that He will never forsakes us.

He sees every time we cry, and every time we're so weak we don't think we can make it. His promise is a great comfort, because he's just not up in heaven somewhere, leaving us alone. I'm thankful he sent his actual Holy Spirit to live inside of us. So, he's not as distant as you might think he is. He's ever so near you, and the Holy Spirit ministers and comforts you, which is part of God himself!

In fact, all three of the Trinity are God, so God is right there with you, alongside you and comforting you... holding you in the spirit. I don't know about you, but that really brings me great comfort.

I don't know why, but I got to thinking about that the other day. I got to thinking about when I pray I sometimes look up into heaven, and then it dawned on me as to why. I had forgotten something so very precious and important. I sometimes forget just how close Jesus is. I would sometimes think, 'Oh, I wish the Lord was right here with me, as I looked up to heaven to pray. But then I remember that God IS right here with me... in my heart and in my spirit. He is the very one who brought my spirit alive! He's the one that when I accepted him as my Lord and savior, send his holy spirit to dwell personally in me. That's the promise the Lord gives everyone who accepts Jesus as their savior. He immediately sends his holy spirit to transform our spirit more into the image of God and his character. That's when we begin to really love and know the presence of God and himself! The Holy Spirit is with us every minute of the day and night, 24/7. Always so near.

The second verse He brought to my attention, comes from Isaiah 43:5..."Fear not: for I am with thee."

That just backs up Psalm 37:28, which I told you about earlier. I love that. He's saying, "Please don't be afraid. You don't have to be afraid. I'm right here with you." And where the Holy Spirit is, he brings healing. That's just what he does. That is His role, in the trinity.

I hope you enjoyed these verses today. I know they brought me much comfort, just knowing Jesus is with you right now, holding you and comforting you, when others may not be able at this time. But I'm sure they love you and they're praying for you and prayer changes everything. Prayer moves mountains as God works on your behalf. I hope you never forget that. And remember, when our world feels torn apart, God can bring us new beginnings. He is a Way Maker, Promise Keeper, and Light in our darkness. I found that out 52 years ago. He never breaks a promise. 🌹