在一架將要從北卡羅來納州夏洛特市飛往紐約市的飛機上，一名空服員在進行起飛前的檢查時，注意到一位女乘客對飛行明顯感到焦慮和害怕。這名空服員隨即來到這位女乘客身邊，直接坐在走道上，握著她的手，向她解釋整個飛行過程，並向她保證會平安無事。空服員說：「當妳登機之後，我們都會關注妳的需要。若妳感到不適，我希望能陪在妳身邊，關心妳的需要，想知道妳是否安好？可以為妳做些什麼？」空服員的關心和陪伴讓女乘客安下心來，這也讓我聯想到，耶穌說過聖靈會陪伴那些相信基督的人。

為了拯救人們脫離罪惡，基督必須受死，然後復活、升天，但這會讓門徒感到害怕不安並悲痛不已（約翰福音14章1節）。因此，耶穌向他們保證不會獨留他們在世完成祂的使命。祂會賜下聖靈與他們在一起，成為他們的「保惠師，叫祂永遠與[他們]同在」（16節）。聖靈會為耶穌作見證，並提醒他們基督所做和所說的一切（26節）。他們會在艱難時期「蒙聖靈的安慰」（使徒行傳9章31節）。

每個人（包括基督徒）在一生中都會經歷焦慮、恐懼和悲傷的衝擊。但耶穌應許我們，在祂離開世上之後，聖靈會與你我同在，安慰我們。

Making his preflight checks for a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to New York City, a flight attendant noticed a passenger visibly anxious and concerned about flying. He sat in the aisle, held her hand, explained each step of the flight process, and reassured her that she was going to be fine. “When you get on an aircraft, its not about us, its about you,” he said. “And if you’re not feeling good, I want to be there to say, ‘Hey, what’s wrong? Is there something I can do?’ ” His caring presence can be a picture of what Jesus said the Holy Spirit would do for believers in Him.

Christ’s death and resurrection and ascension were necessary and beneficial to save people from their sins, but it would also create emotional turbulence and deep sorrow in the disciples’ hearts (John 14:1). So He reassured them that they wouldn’t be left alone to carry out His mission in the world. He would send the Holy Spirit to be with them—an “advocate to help [them] and be with [them] forever” (v. 16). The Spirit would bear witness about Jesus and remind them of all Christ did and said (v. 26). They would be “encouraged by” Him during difficult times (Acts 9:31).

In this life, everyone—including believers in Christ—will experience the turbulence of anxiety, fear, and grief. But He’s promised that, in His absence, the Holy Spirit is present to comfort us.