Encouragement for Today

February 13, 2025 If God Feels Far Away Today LYSA TERKEURST Lee en español

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7 (ESV)

I feel so alone. Where do I go from here?

I think we’ve all been here at some point in our lives — whether it’s the result of circumstances beyond our control or isolation of our own choosing.

I remember an incredibly difficult season in my life when I found myself pulling back from everyone, even my closest friends. Before I knew it, I woke up one day feeling lonelier than I’d ever felt in my life. I kept smiling and saying things like, “I’m fine. Everything is good. I’m doing well.” But I was crying on the inside. Jesus, where are You? Why does it feel like You aren’t here? I don’t understand why You’re allowing all these hard things to happen!

Being alone doesn't just make us discouraged. It's also a dangerous place to be. If the enemy can isolate us, he can influence and mislead us. One of his favorite entry points is through the loneliness we feel.

That's why I'm so grateful for the words of Jesus in John 16:6-7: “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (ESV).

We may feel lonely, but because of the Holy Spirit, we are never completely alone and never without guidance. Jesus promises that the Spirit “will guide [us] into all the truth” (John 16:13, ESV).

Jesus’ words in this passage would have felt completely unfathomable to His disciples. They must have thought: After all we’ve gone through together, You're just going to leave us? But Jesus dying and departing from earth wasn’t an act of cruelty. It was an act of kindness. When He left, He promised to send the Holy Spirit, which was to the disciples’ advantage.

In case you feel like you're navigating difficulties all alone today, remember these truths about the Holy Spirit for those who are Christ followers. The Holy Spirit will …

• Help you (John 14:16; John 16:7).
• Convict you (John 16:8).
• Guide you (John 16:13).
• Dwell in you (John 14:17).
• Teach you (John 14:26).
• Intercede in prayer for you (Romans 8:26).

In my season of intense loneliness, my perspective changed when I started asking the Holy Spirit to speak to me. I didn’t make this a complicated exercise. Instead of being afraid of the silence, I tried to lean into it, whispering, Holy Spirit, what do You want to say to me right now? I’m listening. Please lead me. Comfort me. Convict me. And when my heartbreak starts to make me forget the Lord’s faithfulness, help me to see it.

Maybe you need to pause and pray these words right now, friend. The Holy Spirit will guide you when the road ahead feels uncertain. Remember: God isn’t hiding from us. He’s waiting to be seen by us. And no one can help us see the faithfulness of God more than the Holy Spirit. He is with us. And in the midst of so many uncertainties in life, He is a certainty we can always count on.

Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit and for not leaving me to face hardships by myself. Please give me an opportunity to help someone else feel less lonely today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

After Acts 1, we don’t see Jesus physically walking the earth. Can you imagine the loneliness the early Church would have felt after Jesus ascended into heaven and this new reality set in? But God had a plan and promise for them. And the same is true for us today: Because of the Holy Spirit, we are never completely alone and never without guidance. In our new study, Seen, Known, Loved: Leaning on the Holy Spirit in Us and the People Beside Us, we dive into Acts to discover how the same Spirit that empowered the early Church is still at work in us. No matter what you're facing, know that God has sent you a Helper who is with you every step of the way. Get your study guide today, and start experiencing the peace and direction only He can provide. Order your study guide!

ENGAGE

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

John 16:33, “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” (ESV).

How does knowing God’s intentional plan for sending the Holy Spirit encourage your heart today? What is one way you could invite the Holy Spirit to help you in this season?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

© 2025 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.