“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Listen carefully, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call his name Immanuel (God with us).” Isaiah 7:14 (AMP)
On the floor of my prayer closet, there lies a notebook that is precious to me. In it, I write prayer requests for various friends and relatives. I find it a joy and honor to touch Heaven on behalf of these dear brothers and sisters.
A couple struggling in their marriage…
A friend whose husband is battling cancer…
Friends who lost loved ones this year…
Faithful Christians who are going through unemployment… cancer… Moms whose hearts are broken because of prodigal sons and daughters, who chose to walk away from the Lord.
As I was thinking about the many trials these people face this Holiday season, my heart filled with gratitude for things that we normally take for granted: good health, a strong marriage, a roof over my head, children who love Jesus, food to eat every day, and the fact that, regardless of what is under the tree, we are all together.
That is the greatest gift to me this particular Christmas.
While praying about each one of these situations, Isaiah’s words came to my mind. I realized each one of these families had one thing in common, beyond their shared crisis this Christmas:
They know the Baby of Christmas.
They have Immanuel – God with Them. And, although amid their agony they may not always feel His presence, still, He is there.
God IS with each of them.
I know that, because one of His most repeated promises throughout Scriptures is “I’ll never leave you, nor forsake you.”
That’s the Immanuel promise.
When Isaiah prophesied the coming Messiah about 700 years before Jesus’ birth, God inspired Him with a Name that would become the answer, the only breath of fresh air during each hot valley we cross in life:
The promise that the Baby would become the Bridge that would cross the chasm between us and the Father… that He would die for our sins and resurrect from the dead… that He would ascend and send His Holy Spirit to dwell in all who called upon His Name, repented of their sins to be born again… (John 3:3)
That He would then become Immanuel – God with us – forever… and through it all. Not only at Christmas, but from January 1st through December 31st, every year, until the Father calls us home.
Isaiah called Him Immanuel - God with us - forever… and through it all. Not only at Christmas, but from January 1st through December 31st, every year. Always.with.us. Click To TweetThe Answer.
The Comforter.
The Peace.
The One who understands your pain.
The True Gift of Christmas.
I have never had the disheartening experience of going through a major loss or crisis right before Christmas. I cannot imagine the pain, which has got to be intensified, because Christmas is naturally a time to celebrate, give and receive Joy.
It simply doesn’t go together, does it? Christmas and Pain… Christmas and Loss… Christmas and hopelessness.
It’s an impossible equation!
And yet so real to so many of you today.
It simply doesn’t go together, does it? Christmas and Pain… Christmas and Loss… Christmas and hopelessness. It’s an impossible equation! Click To TweetBut I would like to invite you to meditate upon this truth today, and share it with those you love who are going through a crisis this Holiday Season:
That God’s promises never fail.
And if He said He would be Immanuel – then Immanuel He is!
That regardless of how dark your circumstances are this Christmas, this Truth forever remains:
That even though you may not feel His loving hand…
Even though the darkness around you hides the Light of His glory…
Even though there may not be Joy in your heart today…
You can trust this truth: HE.IS.WITH.YOU.
The Baby in the manger, the resurrected Lord, Immanuel … will walk you through the valley. Again.
His hands will never slip away. His ironclad grip will never let you go. Though darkness may surround you, His light shall pierce through… if not today, tomorrow. If not tomorrow, some day…
Grab a hold of this Truth, tired soul.
If there can’t be Joy, let there be Peace in your heart this Christmas… the peace of knowing that God is with you, personally, unconditionally… even in the darkest day. Click To Tweet
To fully know and trust the Emanuel Promise… That’s my Christmas wish for you.
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Amen, Patricia! That’s my Christmas wish this year for my people too- that it would be abundantly clear and celebrated that God is with us!
It is the best gift one can wish for! Merry Christmas, dear friend!
God with Us changes every scene of every story! This is true especially during this season when we celebrate His birth. Even the lament that goes with so much of this life finds meaning because He is with us in it.
Amen, Michele! Only those who have walked through dark valleys and found true, unshakable joy through it all can attest to the truth that He is always there.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Beautifully said, Patricia.
December 20, marks eight years since my dad left this world for heaven. Christmastime is still sad in some ways. He will never know my grandchildren, his great grands. Never again will we travel to his home on Christmas night. But I have loads of precious memories I cling to.
And I’m thankful not only for Immanuel, God with us…me, but also that my dad, an atheist for years, came to know Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. You see, I prayed daily for my dad for 16 years. When my faith waned, I inserted his name in Scripture about salvation.
So, I celebrate that my dad spends Christmas in the literal presence of Immanuel. Hallelujah!
I have personally been thinking a lot about Jesus as Emmanuel lately. Such hope. laurensparks.net
Patricia, “God with us” is an amazing concept and one that provides hope when we feel lonely or sad. Thank you for this wonderful reminder.
This truth of Christmas is SUCH a very special one: “You can trust this truth: HE.IS.WITH.YOU.” Thanks for sharing your reflections, Patricia. May you and yours have a wonderful Christmas!