John 1:16 | “From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.”

I walked into my daughter’s room one time, and noticed that she was burdened by an issue. I probed and realized that it had to do with the provision of certain school funds whose set deadline was fast approaching.

To my greatest flabbergast, she was worried, burdened, and stressed over something she had never brought to me nor her father’s attention, which by the way had already been provided for without her notice, but pending when she’d alert me. She never mentioned it because she thought the funds weren’t available at the time.

The Lord ministered to us from that experience. He had me tell her; “You can never be stranded. You can never struggle. Some things are basic. All you needed to do was just to let me know it was time for the payment.”

It is the same lesson for us today. We can never be stranded in this life with the Holy Spirit. He is the grace of God. He is our very blessing. Like an ocean, He is unlimited and inexhaustible. With Him, it’s one wave of grace after another. There’s nothing we’ll ever need that is outside of Him. His sufficiency fills up all of our deficiencies. That was why it was improper for the disciples to ‘suffer’ – to fast – while they had the comfort of Jesus’ (the bridegroom) presence. It’s same for us too.

Mathew 9:14-15 | “Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast? Jesus answered, “How can the guests (children; friends) of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?” The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”

When is this said time when the bridegroom will be taken that the disciples will fast, or ‘suffer’? Was it a reference to Jesus’ death, or is there another looming season of suffering and grief that we are to expect?

Tough times are ahead no doubts. Perilous times will come. But it is encouraging and interesting to know that Jesus took care of that for us. He promised not to leave us as helpless as orphans. Today, the Holy Spirit lives in us in His stead. He is our ever present help who will never leave nor forsake us in the face of crisis. So, there’s no more room for ‘fasting’ nor ‘mourning.’ No room for struggling nor suffering. We are indeed exempt. Not every experience is meant for us.

Prayer | Precious Holy Spirit! May every stronghold of struggle and suffering in us be cast down, and may Your presence, which is our unending blessing, be made manifest, mightily in our lives!

Psalm 21:6 | “Surely you have granted him unending blessings, and made him glad with the joy of your presence.”