Who Is Your Guide?

Who Is Your Guide?

What did you do before GPS lived on your phone?

For me, it was my grandma.

My mom’s mom — Grandma Potter — knew every turn. My grandparents lived way out in the countryside, thirty minutes from a tiny town and nearly an hour from a restaurant. Whenever we made the drive, I would sit behind the wheel while Grandma rode shotgun and Grandpa sat quietly in the backseat.

We’d drive through woods, along dirt roads, and down winding highways. Over time, I slowly learned the route, but honestly, I never felt much pressure to memorize it. Grandma knew the way. I trusted her completely to guide us turn by turn.

There was comfort in her presence.

And in many ways, this image mirrors the relationship Jesus had with His disciples.

“I Am Going Away”

The disciples had spent years relying on Jesus. They walked beside Him, listened to Him, learned from Him, and watched Him live. Then, during the Last Supper, Jesus told them something unsettling:

“I am going away.”

Naturally, fear and confusion rushed in.

Where are You going? Why can’t we follow You? What are we supposed to do without You?

But Jesus answered them with a promise from John 14:

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth.”

Jesus wasn’t abandoning them. He wasn’t leaving them orphaned or alone. He was promising them His continued presence through the Holy Spirit.

And honestly, that is what we all long for.

When life becomes painful, uncertain, or heavy, what we need most is not simply answers or instructions. We need the withness of God.

More Than Rules

Jesus never said to His disciples:

“Okay, now you know everything I taught you. Write it all down, follow the rules, and you’ll be fine.”

That’s not the heart of Christianity.

Jesus was not replacing relationship with information. He was continuing relationship through the Spirit.

The disciples would still be guided, comforted, challenged, and strengthened. The relationship would continue — just differently.

And eventually, they would have to step forward and live out what Jesus had taught them.

Learning to Trust the Guide

There came a point in my life when Grandma was no longer sitting in the passenger seat beside me. I had to drive the roads myself. I had to put into practice everything she had shown me.

In a healthy way, that was part of growing up.

The disciples experienced something similar. They stepped out from under Jesus’ physical guidance and protection, but they were never truly alone. The Spirit of truth remained with them.

And the same is true for us today.

Who Guides Us Now?

Lately, I’ve been fascinated by how quickly AI has become our go-to guide for life.

For years we’ve said, “Just Google it.” Information became instantly accessible. But AI feels different. It feels more personal — almost like someone sitting in the passenger seat beside you, helping navigate every decision.

Sometimes it can even feel like it wants to drive the car for us.

There are wonderful uses for technology, and AI can absolutely be a helpful tool. But there’s also an important question underneath it all:

Am I slowly losing my ability to think, discern, listen, and trust?

We can outsource so much of our thinking that eventually we stop paying attention altogether.

And maybe that’s why Jesus continues inviting us into something far deeper than convenience.

He invites us into relationship.

Abiding Instead of Autopilot

Jesus says:

“Abide in Me, and I in you.”

That kind of relationship takes surrender. It takes trust. It takes slowing down long enough to pay attention to God’s presence.

There is a mystery to this kind of life.

We make space for God. We listen. We trust. And somehow, through the Spirit, God continues to show up. Over time, trust grows. Love deepens. Confidence forms.

Relationship changes us.

It’s rarely easy. Relationships are often messy, uncomfortable, and deeply vulnerable. But they are also rich, fulfilling, and life-giving — because relationship is how God designed us to live.

God exists eternally as Father, Son, and Spirit — a God of relationship.

And because we are made in God’s image, we are created for relationship too: with God and with one another.

A Gentle Invitation

As you move through this week, may you remember that you are not alone.

May you hold the hand of the One whose love for you knows no limits.

And may you continue strengthening your relationship with God through the quiet, faithful presence of the Holy Spirit.