Emmanuel. God is with us. God is with me and God is with you. He came down to earth, as a baby, with this purpose in mind. He is not some distant figurehead, but a companion who meets us in our need, our busyness, our loneliness. He is a Companion who comforts us in our sorrow and rejoices with us in our times of celebration and joy.
God is with us! He brings hope, comfort, and salvation. We are never alone. In Matthew 1:23 the angel of the Lord appears and tells Joseph, “‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).” This was a name given to Jesus by God. What a blessed reminder of His role in our lives. We can rest assured that He knows our every need. He hears our prayers and our praises and He knows all of the aches and fears that we hold in our hearts because they are too hard to say out loud.
The Christmas season is always busy but it’s easy to feel alone in all the hustle and bustle. Do you ever feel that way? Like life is moving on all around you, but not including you? Or maybe it’s more than busyness and you are in a season of fear, and you feel like the next few weeks are just going to be too much. Too much of everything – life, family, church, work, worrying, stressing, planning, holding the family together.
God with us! What does that mean to you today? Can you feel His presence amid this busy season? Can you sense His nearness in the silence of a time of devotion as you pray and read your Bible? For me, I find Him in the quiet and stillness of the early morning before I am confronted with the cares of the rest of the day. I sense Him in nature as I listen to and look at His marvelous creation.
Do you wonder how you can embrace the presence of Emmanuel in your life? Seek His presence by reading the Bible and talking to Him throughout the day. He’s with you and He hears you. Develop an attitude of trusting Him and surrendering to Him. Listen for Him. He is longing to speak to you. Hand your cares and worries to Him. He is waiting to carry them for you. Look for ways to minister to others and demonstrate God’s love to them. He is ready to walk beside you as you set out on a new path of service.
Emmanuel.
God is with us.
Taking it Further: What are some practical ways you can embrace the presence of God in your life?
