Garry talked this morning at Cherry Tree Court about the pace at which people walk. Often, if walking with other people, we have to modify our pace to suit other people, either walking faster than usual or slowing our pace down to accommodate them. As we get older, we may walk more slowly than we used to; the very young among us, who are learning to walk, are also usually slow and faltering in their walk.
Jesus promised that He would send the Holy Spirit to walk alongside us – and the amazing truth is He walks at our pace. He doesn’t drag us along, hurrying us up, nor does He walk ahead of us, expecting us to scurry after Him. He is with us forever, staying with us, working with us as we are, a constant companion and friend, better than even the most effective ‘personal trainer.’ John 14:26 reminds us that He is our teacher, enabling us to do more than we could possibly achieve on our own. We may all have different ‘starting points’ in life, but the Holy Spirit works with us to be more than we could ever be in our own strength.
God has also given helpers in the church in the form of ministry gifts (Eph 4:11-13) to build us up to maturity and to bless others. We can be grateful for all the help God gives us and can be secure in the fact that the Holy Spirit walks alongside us, leading us into the good works God has prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph 2:10)