Garrett loved his three-week staff role at a summer camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains until “camp crud” hit two weeks in. For four days, he lay in his bunk, sick, frustrated and isolated from the fun and community he’d been enjoying.
Alone but not abandoned
“The only one I had to talk to was God.” Garrett began to question God, wrestling with why he was sidelined when he had come to serve. He was stuck looking at four walls.
Always one to joke and tease, and one who loved being around people, that bed felt like a prison cell, and he was in no condition to break out. The “crud” had hit him hard.
But in the quiet, God’s presence met him. He felt encouraged to be patient, trusting God would bring something good from the experience.
The promise of the Holy Spirit
The prophet Joel gave us a glimpse of one of God’s most precious gifts: the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in us, His people. (See Joel 1-3.)
This Spirit gives us the ability to know the Lord, the power to believe, and the faith to follow Him.
About 800 years later, Peter connected the dots and boldly referenced Joel’s prophecy on the Day of Pentecost.
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1-4 NIV).
As the disciples gathered a week after Jesus ascended to Heaven, the Holy Spirit came like a rushing wind. Tongues of fire appeared, and they began speaking in other languages. As crowds questioned what was happening, Peter declared Joel’s prophecy was being fulfilled before their eyes.
Jesus rose up. His presence came down.
Jesus’ ascension did not mean He was leaving His children alone, but His presence was coming down. His physical presence left, but God’s spiritual presence came down to be with them forever.
We, too, have access to the power from the Holy Spirit. His spirit pours out upon us and remains in us.
That same Spirit encouraged Garrett in his struggle. It gave him hope and reminded him that God was still at work and could bring something good from it.
A song and a sign
Garrett, the only staffer from Louisiana, had relentlessly requested the song Louisiana Saturday Night during camp activities, but it had never been selected.
After four days in bed, he rejoined the group for dinner; no one had expected him to be there. As he walked in, the staff cheered in affirmation and support.
And “Louisiana Saturday Night” began to play.
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