Holy Spirit, Our Best Friend

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). This proverb speaks about friendship. A friend always loves us and remains faithful beside us in our adversities.

Friendship speaks of closeness. Within the Trinity, the Fellowship Relationship between the Triune God is also reflected in the Friendship Relationship God has with us, manifested in the Close Friendship of the Holy Spirit with us.

We often picture God the Father as our Divine Parent and Lord Jesus as a Friend to whom we can always turn. It's a beautiful and accurate depiction that many works of art capture. But how often do we see the Holy Spirit represented as a friend? It's time we embrace and celebrate the Holy Spirit as a True Friend who walks beside us every day.

Like a friend, the Holy Spirit is the One who, from the beginning, brought us to Salvation, and our newborn-again is His Work. The Holy Spirit is the Friend who saves us when we are in trouble, even in the darkest times. And when we can no longer pray because of the heavy burdens, the Holy Spirit prays intercessory prayers for us, praying for our unspoken complaints. Sometimes, the pressure we feel is so heavy that it's hard to say even a word. The Holy Spirit is the One who searches our hearts and reveals them to God in His Intercessory Prayer (Romans 8:26-27).

Romans 8:16 states that the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Like a friend, He always reminds us of who we are: beloved children of God. It is said in John 16:15b, “Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” The Holy Spirit also reveals the Heart of the Lord Jesus to us.

A friend defends us. Jesus said that He went away to send another Helper for us, the Spirit, who would be our Helper and Comforter. He continued the Work of Jesus after He ascended to Heaven. In the original language, the word Helper there is Parakletos, which could also mean lawyer or advocate. Wow, imagine being accompanied by God as our Advocate! Safe indeed!

A friend frees us from the shackles of fear, guiding and inspiring us so that our lives are free and liberated from fear and filled with confidence, as beautifully revealed in 2 Timothy 1:7 (TPT): “For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit, who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.”

A friend walks with us, in step with us. As we find in Galatians 5:25: 'If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.'

Oh, how beautiful it is to walk in step with our Best Friend, who (super)naturally transforms our lives for the better.

Friendship is a relationship that, over time, brings friends closer together, making them more alike. Our Friendship with the Holy Spirit draws us ever closer and transforms us to be more like God.