“…It is to your advantage that I go away…” (John 16:7)

How often has Christ allowed a thing for our benefit, yet, it caused much sorrow and angst? The disciples struggled so much having no clue what Christ was talking about. They were confused and hurt at what Jesus was telling them was about to happen.

How could Jesus leaving them be considered an advantage?

The answer is in the waiting it seems, for them, and for us, very often. They would not know what He meant by the Helper coming. But what Jesus knew was that they would then experience the indwelling of the Spirit of God. He would then, in essence, be walking IN them rather than just walking WITH them.

There are times when Christ allows a circumstance that is for our advantage and benefit, yet, we would never choose it in and of ourselves. We love comfort entirely too much to make decisions that Christ wants us to make. So, He must stir the nest and kick the babies out to fly. So, it is the way of the great EAGLE.

It seems so harsh, doesn’t it? Nothing makes you fly more than a good, swift, kick in the pants. Then, FLY YOU MUST or die trying.

I remember years ago being laid off from my then job with other middle management in a healthcare system I had been with for roughly five years. I was devastated. However, I ended up on a career path that at the time I would have never considered if I had not been forced to do so. It ended up being a blessing in disguise.

I find an abrupt “suddenly” can be quite maddening. Yet, I have begun to love the changing of the wind with Jesus. The new thing coming. The thing never considered. The gain that seems to rise from the ashes of loss.

No, the disciples didn’t really understand the blessed promise that was about to be introduced to them….but it was necessary for them to fulfill their God-ordained mandate from Heaven. Without the “advantage” Jesus spoke of, they would have been powerless preachers.

Sometimes, there is a blessing in disguise that we may not fully understand in the moment but, eventually, the Lord and His kindness will show us why it had to be such a way.