Prior to Christ’s arrest and crucifixion, he encourages his disciples with the following: “I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away, the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.”  John 16:7

Depending on the version of Scripture you use, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, or my favorite – the Counselor.

In our modern world, a counselor is a highly trained professional who gives guidance on personal, social, and psychological matters. In much the same way, the Holy Spirit indwells believers, helping us with decision making as well as navigating complex situations. 

Further in John 16, Jesus explains that the Spirit will guide us in all truth, “for he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you” (vs 13-14).

Did you catch that? 

He will speak and declare.

Communication is one of the Holy Spirit’s gifts to us.

Like a person who visits their therapist, unloads, then proceeds to put in their airpods before they can hear what the professional has to say, we often crowd HIM out with a steady stream of noise.

The Holy Spirit is not limited by the mode in which he speaks. But it’s also true that we can hear his voice when we rid ourselves of the cacophony of sounds in our surroundings, just waiting for that still small voice.

At first

You might feel uncomfortable 

You might feel impatient

You might have to fight head noise

But his promise is true: to speak and declare

The one true counselor is whispering.

Are we quiet enough to hear?