You Are Not Orphans

You Are Not Orphans

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you"
John 14:18

Within an eight-month period, I had a friend whose husband's mother and her own mother died. Although they both lived into their 90s, eventually their bodies succumbed to illness and infirmity. The full impact of having our parents absent from earth creates renewed sadness and a strange feeling of being orphans. The fact that both of them were the only children made the situation even more difficult. Cleaning out two houses and sifting through years of accumulated possessions, old letters, and ancient photographs brings pleasant, yet bittersweet memories, along with laughter and tears. Perhaps Jesus' disciples and followers experienced similar feelings of abandonment as they huddled behind locked doors following His death. They feared what might happen next. Would they be arrested and executed, too? Although Jesus tried to make them understand in the final days of His ministry, they were unprepared and stunned by His absence, and left with feelings of grief and uncertainty. All of us feel abandoned at times. When health issues, job losses, financial crises, and relationship problems overwhelm, it is human to wonder why God doesn't immediately swoop in and fix everything. Feelings of loss and abandonment seem especially keen at Christmas time, Sometimes we forget God is still with us. He hasn't disappeared. The Holy Spirit lives within, and promises to comfort and counsel us. He is a comforter, helper, and friend. Most of all, He is Father. Having been adopted into the family of God, we are not orphans.