The holy spirit

The holy spirit helps us to endure various trials. How so?

The apostle Paul, who faced tests himself, described in a letter to the Christians in Corinth how God’s spirit came to his aid. Let us briefly consider what he wrote.

First, Paul openly told his fellow believers that he was dealing with "a thorn in the flesh," a trial of some sort. Then, he said: "I three times entreated the Lord [Jehovah] that it might depart from me." (2 Corinthians 12:7, 8) Even though Paul begged God to remove his affliction, it remained. Perhaps you face a similar situation today. Like Paul, you may have prayed with persistence and with confidence, asking Jehovah to remove a trial. Despite your repeated petitions, however, the problem still confronts you. Does that mean that Jehovah did not respond to your prayers and that his spirit is not helping you? Not at all! (Psalm 10:1, 17) Note what the apostle Paul said next.

In response to Paul’s prayers, God told him: "My undeserved kindness is sufficient for you; for my power is being made perfect in weakness." Paul said: "Most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast as respects my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may like a tent remain over me." (2 Corinthians 12:9; Psalm 147:5) Hence, Paul experienced that through Christ, God’s powerful protection was spread over him like a tent. Today, Jehovah answers our prayers in a similar manner. He spreads his protection like a shelter over his servants.

Of course, a tent does not stop the rains from falling or the winds from blowing, but it does provide some protection from those elements. Likewise, the shelter provided by "the power of the Christ" does not stop trials from befalling us or hardships from being brought against us. Yet, it does give spiritual protection against the harmful elements of this world and the attacks of its ruler, Satan. (Revelation 7:9, 15, 16) Therefore, even if you are dealing with a trial that does not ‘depart from you,’ you can be certain that Jehovah is aware of your struggle and that he has responded to "the sound of your outcry." (Isaiah 30:19; 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4) Paul wrote: "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but along with the temptation he will also make the way out in order for you to be able to endure it."—1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:6, 7.

Granted, the present "last days" of this ungodly world are characterized by "critical times hard to deal with." (2 Timothy 3:1) Even so, for servants of God, these times are not impossible to deal with. Why not? Because of the support and protection of God’s holy spirit, which Jehovah gives willingly and abundantly to all those who ask him for it with persistence and confidence. May we, therefore, be resolved to keep on praying for holy spirit every day.—Psalm 34:6; 1 John 5:14, 15.