Immanuel: We are Never Alone (Even when we feel we are)

It was His plan from the very beginning of time. He planned to dwell with us.

And He did.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”Genesis 3:8

God walked in the garden with Adam and Eve.

But their lack of trust and obedience separated them from His presence. 

And so began the plan for redemption. The plan to restore the world back to the original vision–God living with humanity.

It was a long process.

But one night He came just as the prophets promised. ” “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

“–which means, ‘God with us.'”(Matthew 1:23)

God. With. Us.

 

 

I’ve been pondering this a lot lately. Changes in life–new seasons, whether fall turning into winter or spring into summer or the natural changes of growing older, families evolving, professions shifting– these changes seem to leave me a little empty.

I used to fight it, the loneliness. But I’ve been reminded lately that these feelings stirred can be good because they open time and space in my heart for Immanuel. The empty makes me a little desperate for Him.

With each military move, each deployment, the shock of motherhood, and the bittersweet success of grown children leaving home, God has been with me. It is up to me to seek Him. My part is to lean on Him to press through the change until I become accustomed to the new rhythm and no longer feel the loss.

Christmas makes this possible. The baby in the manger–God come to visit us for awhile and change things.

[tweetability]The thirty-three years of Jesus’s presence on this earth was a foretaste of what’s to come.[/tweetability] 

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4

But until that day, He is with us by His Holy Spirit.

And I will pray to the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:16-18 (KJV)

We are never alone.

Press into His presence.

Immanuel has come.

God is with us.

How do you “press in” to His presence?

Thanks for stopping by!

Jesus loves you,