My Friends Are Atheists

Have you ever walked in your sleep? I have. My one and only time sleepwalking was at summer camp when my camp counselor led my cabin on a hike and overnight campout. My cabinmates and I hiked uphill through on-again, off-again drizzly rain for what felt like hours before we reached our camping spot.

Around midnight, I dreamed that one of the girls woke us up and announced we were going on a midnight hike, so I got up and started walking. Except I was sleepwalking. When I woke up, I was in the middle of unfamiliar woods and had no idea where I was! The sound of rushing water filled my ears, and I realized I was only a few feet away from a waterfall drop-off.

What did I do? Well, first, I freaked out for a minute. Then I prayed and started calling out my camp counselor’s name. She heard me from a distance and called back to me. I followed her voice until I reached the campsite safely.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that I had another Counselor with me when I was lost in those woods. Did you know that after Jesus died and rose again to redeem us, He gave His followers His Holy Spirit—the Counselor? If you know Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in you as your Counselor. He is always with us and never leaves us or abandons us (Hebrews 13:5).

The next time you’re in a situation where you feel lost or don’t know what to do, pray and ask the best Counselor to guide you and give you wisdom. Call on Him through Jesus, and then listen for His voice. He’ll get you safely where you need to be. • Kelly Hope

• When was a time you felt lost?

• Have you ever tried to listen to God’s voice? How did it go?

• In John 10, Jesus calls Himself the good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (us). He also says His sheep follow Him because they recognize His voice (verses 3-5, 16, 27). If you want to learn to discern God’s guidance, try asking yourself: “Does this agree with the Bible?” The more we become familiar with God’s words in the Bible, the easier it will be to discern what’s from Him. “Does this glorify God the Father and God the Son (John 16:12-15)? Does this bring the fruit of the Spirit and hope (Galatians 5:22-23; John 10:10) or condemnation and fear (John 3:17; Romans 8:1)?” Who are trusted Christian mentors or peers you could talk to about this?

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.†John 14:26 (CSB)

Read Verses:

Colossians 4:2-6