Wednesday, June 11, 2025  

Today's Scripture
John 16:12–15

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (NRSV)

Reflection

I used to declare that I loved to learn! That was a lie. I don’t like learning. I like knowing new things. That phase of understanding how much I don’t know is very uncomfortable and I try to avoid discomfort. In seminary, I loved studying Greek. It was formulaic and it made sense. I liked knowing some of it. I hated studying Hebrew. It was more poetic. Plus, a small dot under a letter could change the meaning of a word. Was it an eraser smudge or a different verb? I was miserable studying Hebrew. And yet, I appreciate knowing just enough to help me understand passages of scripture.

If I had to sum up my prayer life in one word, it would be “Why.” Why is this happening? Why does everything seem like such a struggle? Why can’t I seem to move past this guilt/anger/shame/grief? Why. On my best days, I remember this passage. There are some things that I simply cannot know right now. I must struggle through them because there isn’t a healthy shortcut around them.

I know that at some point the struggle will be less and I will understand more. I know enough to know that I will never understand everything. In the meantime, I will keep showing up, engaging, questioning, and struggling. Eventually, things will click, make a bit more sense, and will make my next struggle easier to bear. I’ve found that is how the “Spirit of Truth” works.

Prayer

Three in one God, make your presence known in the midst of my struggle. Give me patience, grit, and a measure of grace for myself in the midst of learning. Then, remind me to offer the same grace to those around me. Amen.

Written by Andrea Denney, Director of Operational Ministries

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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