God with Us
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
— Isaiah 7:14
Because of Christmas, God is with us.
Let's dwell on this thought for a few moments. God, the Almighty God of Angel Armies, Creator, Sovereign King of Kings—that God—is with us. You and me. He is close, powerful and loves us unconditionally even when we can't see him or feel him.
When I am consciously aware of this truth, it changes how I think and feel, what I fear and what I am willing to risk. God is with me. He's here. And his presence impacts everything about how I live. Jesus is a friend who knows everything there is to know about me.
He knows the secret fears in my heart. He is the only one who knows about the waves of anxiety I’m drowning in when I have a brave smile on the outside. When I’m fighting for emotional air, Jesus is holding me up. I am never alone, even in my own thoughts. I have a friend who understands—a friend I can always ask for help.
From the dawn of creation, humanity has been on a quest to draw close to God. Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the evening in the garden of Eden until sin spoiled the relationship, and we could no longer enter the presence of a Holy God. But God didn't give up relationship with us. Through the Law, he made a way for his presence to live among his people once again.
For centuries the Israelites, weighed down by their inability to obey and follow God's Law, cried out for a Saviour. The prophets gave them hope, telling of a time when God would restore the relationship between God and humanity through the birth of a baby born of a virgin. God's people lived in expectation and hope for hundreds of years, waiting for the Messiah to be born.
Immanuel, God with us.
The world we live in is still broken, stained by sin. We are infected by the stench of it— from within us, from the brokenness of others and the natural world around us. Bad things happen to good and bad people alike. There is no escaping the effects of the sinful world where we live.
But we are not alone in our pain. God is with us. With God's presence in our lives, we enjoy purpose and meaning, and experience true joy regardless of our circumstances. We have hope, looking forward to an eternity free from sin and pain.
There have been times when I needed a physical reminder of this spiritual truth. It started when I was in Bible college, overwhelmed with the pressure of due dates amid family life and ministry obligations. Some days I would sit in my office and stare at the computer screen motionless, crippled by the stress, unable to think clearly, watching the clock as the time for submission drew closer. I cried out to Jesus in my desperation.
His simple reminder, "I'm right here," gave me a calm determination to persevere. I found a stool and pulled it up to the desk beside me, just as if I was going to help one of my kids with their homework, close enough to share the workspace. That was Jesus' chair. Even today, as I write, there is an empty chair by my side. Jesus is right here. I am aware of His presence.
Being aware of God's presence changes my perspective. I am more open to possibilities and ideas and find creative solutions to obstacles I face. He helps me push away the overwhelm that fogs my mind when I am stressed and anxious.
As we move into the holiday season, knowing God's presence is with me gives me comfort and strength. There will be a hundred decisions to make, and that's okay because God is here. There will be awkward conversations at holiday events, and that's okay because God is with me. I know there will be disappointments, tiredness and unmet expectations, and I'm going to be okay. God is with me.
Because of Christmas, we can celebrate the wonderful truth that God is with us!
