There is no doubt in my mind that there will be times of crisis. Perhaps a loved one is ill or someone has died. Perhaps it is the loss of a job or a change in employment. Seasons come. The scriptures tell us in 1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. We will experience trials.

I am not sure when they will come, what their nature will be, for how long or how difficult but they will come.

I am trying to teach my grandson Jacob some new skills. I am sure he would rather kick back and let me do the work, but the goal of a parent or a grandparent ought not be to let a child not learn , but to be helping them gain instruction for profitability. About an hour ago, I think Jacob might have wondered about his “trial”. It was met with tears but he was real good as he learned the new skill. As I walked with him each step of the way. At the end of it he was happier at learning a new skill. (With maturity, new skills are gained. Not all are easy, but most are truly necessary for growth.) And I for his success.

Parents and grandparents, spiritual moms, dads and mentors. They will provide tremendous benefit to those they walk with as they experience trials in their life.

In 2001 my son was involved in a terrible accident. Despite being “dead” he was shipped to the hospital trauma center. It was a lot of years of recovery and restoration. (Today he and his wife were here because they were looking for a home in the town we live in.) In the midst of it, my wife left her job and pretty much “lived” at the hospital. It was during that time that some spiritual parents “moved” into my life to help me walk through it.

They helped me to understand God’s ways, His love and purposes in my difficult time. They spent time with me in prayer and just loved on me. They provided me with counsel and their collective wisdom to help me navigate these times of crisis. They provided me with comfort. They stabilized my “ship” in the midst of the storm.

I fully recognized they “weren’t” God but His body in action.

I have had some awesome spiritual parents over the years. When I went through that time with my son, one recognized that Tina and I needed some time away and set the wheels in motion to give us a weekend away while others watched our son. During that time respite was hard to find and we valued that.

Who will comfort you while still keeping you pointed towards your destiny? Who will remind you of who God is in your difficult time? Who will undergird you with love and guide you towards Him. Who will remind you from “where does your help come from”?

True mentoring or spiritual parenting is not devoid of love and comfort during those difficult times one faces. They are not there to “fix it” but to give you comfort, wisdom and guidance. As I watched Jacob work through his difficult learning process, my heart hurt with the pain and frustration I knew he was experiencing, but the desire to see him accomplish the task at hand and be successful walked with it.

Not everything can be “fixed” but sometimes it is simply comforting to know someone has your hand.