The Savior once said, “… when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth …” (John 16:13)

You know, if you think about it, there is great comfort in that promise. It tells us that we have not been left alone. Now, I have a story to illustrate that point.

Francine and her husband had just moved to a dairy farm. Money was too scarce to hire someone to help on the farm, so Francine worked long hours right along side her husband. Three months after moving to the farm, their third daughter, Jenny, was born.

And the work went on. Each night, Francine would put Jenny to bed, wait till she was asleep, and then with her two daughters, slip out and join her husband who was already milking.

One night, however, Francine had a feeling that she shouldn’t go. She didn’t know why. She just knew she shouldn’t go. So while everyone else went out to the milking, Francine put Jenny to bed. And with that done, she began doing some routine housework. Suddenly she was startled by a loud scream from upstairs. She raced up the stairs to find that Jenny had somehow wiggled her body, except for her head, through the bars of her crib, and then had fallen and now was hanging from her bed choking.

Terrified and trembling, Francine struggled to free Jenny from the bars. When she was finally loose, Francine sat down, gathered Jenny into her arms, and simply held her for a long time, thanking God for the prompting, and the life of her beloved daughter.

Now, you and I cannot dictate to the Holy Spirit when, how, and in what manner He is to speak or prompt us. I’m sorry; it just doesn’t work that way. Our responsibility is to keep going forward, trying to live ever-worthy and ever-seeking of the presence of The Spirit, trusting God that we will be taught and prompted at the needed time. Now, those promptings will not come every moment of every day on every matter – nor should they. We were endowed with intelligence and the power of reason, and we are expected to use them. But like spices in our cooking, oh how sweet those prompting are when they come.

I guess, to me it is like a hug from Heaven – that assures us that we are not alone and that we’re doing okay.