1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian 3 - Blessed are those who mourn | Page 8

when we walk through the carnage of our lives, but He continues to bring
strength and comfort. Paul put it so beautifully in Philippians 4 v 13 that “…His
grace is sufficient for me” (even when the thorns remain). The example of
Samson in our reading today typifies this principle. Even after Samson had
wasted his potential on frivolous living, flaunted his strength and failed to live
out God’s purpose for his life, God never left him. In Judges 16 we have Samson
standing for the last time in front of the Philistines in the temple. His two hands
on the columns supporting the roof, he lifted his blind eyes to the heavens and
cried out “Lord remember me”. I’m sure God looked down with tears in his own
eyes and said, “Samson, I have never forgotten you. When you messed up with
Delilah I never abandoned you. When you failed to follow through on my
purpose for you, I never rejected you. I have been with you all of this time”. As
you reflect upon your own life maybe you can identify with the plight and the
feelings of Samson.
#6: The Comforter responds to our Confession by Closing the matter and makes
ready for a reCalculation. One of the things that I like about Garmins is their
ability to “recalculate”. Even when you don’t follow the given directions, the
voice says so politely: “recalculating”. No matter what mistake you make, the
Garmin’s response is always the same. The mistake that you have just made is
not an issue anymore, but all it becomes is a point from which to recalculate.
This may sound like a silly analogy, but it bears a profound truth, that even
though we disobey the calling of God and go our own way, God with enormous
patience and perseverance helps us to recalculate so that our lives can still bear
fruit for Him.
In John 4 Jesus met with the woman at the well after a very definitive
conversation. Jesus left having helped her recalculate the rest of her life. She
was, I am sure, never the same again; that moment must have been a turning
point in her life.
Prayer Thought: Both of the above roles of the Holy Spirit bring with them
incredible comfort. The fact that God does not sit pointing fingers at us, counting
the number of times we fail. As much as He does not condone our failure, He never
condemns us either. Take some time today to do some recalculating yourself in
combination with a conversation with the Holy Spirit.