God is always with me, residing in my inner chapel that I carry with me wherever I go. God’s friendship and presence within me is an unshakable gift of companionship and one of the main reasons I can hope in the first place. I am never alone, because God is with me. I know and believe this in my bones because of my own experience of God’s presence in my life and also from the hours and hours of listening to people’s prayer experiences in spiritual direction.
In a time when we are often faced with growing isolation and loneliness, it is a relief to know that we are never alone. God is not simply always with us, but God is also not leaving us on our own to figure things out. The Holy Spirit is our advocate given to us “to teach [us] everything.” (John 14:26) As we are reminded in Romans 8:26, the Holy Spirit groans on our behalf, comes to aid us in our weakness, and intercedes for us when we do not know the words to pray.
What comfort to know that:
- when we seek to grow in a relationship with God, the Holy Spirit is working with us in our steps forward.
- when we are feeling weak, the Holy Spirit supports our efforts to overcome temptations.
- when we do not know the words to pray, the Holy Spirit is praying with us and for us.
Take comfort in these promises of God, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, for we are not and never will be alone.