Immanuel: Comfort in the Promise of His Presence

"The Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, 

and they will call him Immanuel 

(which means "God with us").

Matthew 1:23

Christmas can be a season of joy or a season of pain--a glorious celebration with family or friends or a heart-wrenching reminder of sorrow and grief. Good feelings of warmth, comfort and connection, or painful feelings of loneliness, mourning, and sadness. The truth is there is much brokenness and pain in this world--and that brokenness and pain often does not cease during the holiday season. 

However, in the midst of joy, in the midst of pain, in the midst of comfort, in the midst of loneliness, in the midst of family and friends, in the midst of mourning and sadness, Immanuel: our God is with us. 

This does not negate the reality of our circumstances. Instead it provides hope and grace in the midst of our experiences. Our God is with us--He chose to send His beloved Son to be with us in the messiness of this broken world. Even when He appears silent, even when we can't make sense of His goodness, even when the pain continues without relief, Our God is with us.

He came to save us. Immanuel, came for me and you. Christ entered this broken world to save us from our sin and brokenness. He came in quietly and unassuming, full of grace, truth and unfailing love. He sees our helplessness, our sorrow, our injustices, and He answered with His Presence. He answered not in spite of our pain, but in the midst of our brokenness. Come what may this Christmas season--our God is with us. May you find comfort in the promise of His Presence. 

"So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son" John 1:14