Immanuel - God With Us

It’s a melancholy day today. We learned at about midnight that one of Taylor’s good friends was killed in a car accident. Our hearts are aching, we are praying without ceasing for the family, our own blessings are being counted, and we’ve stopped often during the day for quiet embraces. Madison Middleton was 19 when she lost her life yesterday morning. I never met her personally, but knew of her as a beautiful young lady who extended a graceful hand to my daughter when she was new to the school. They developed a quick friendship that extended beyond sharing a high school.


It is in times like these - when we hear of untimely tragedies like a teen girl who was killed while driving to meet her Mom for a family baking day less than a week before Christmas - that we often wonder, “where is God?” Our answer: He is here. He is Immanuel, God with us.

There are many miracles discussed and contemplated during the Christmas season: appearances of angels who proclaimed good news of great joy; fulfillment of Biblical prophesies which foretold the coming of our Savior; signs and wonders in the night sky; Elizabeth’s pregnancy; the virgin birth, and many others. The word Immanuel cries to my heart this year as the most blessed miracle of all. For while Jesus found pleasure in coming to the world as an infant and literally walking the earth alongside His creation, His visitation to us did not end with his death.

Jesus lived the perfect life as fully man and fully God. When the world rejected Him to the point of His brutal crucifixion, He rose from the grave and walked among His disciples once more. He conquered death and Hades. Even death could not make Him break His promise to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and He is with us to this day. On top of that, He sent The Holy Spirit, our Counselor, Guide, and Comforter who indwells all believers. His Holy Spirit lives within His believers! You can’t get more “Immanuel” than that!

He is with us, indeed, in ways that will remain a mystery on this side of heaven. He is here to provide our comfort, give us peace in situations that will never make sense, and counsel us in all things, including how to support to our grieving children. He loves us more than we can imagine and it brings Him pleasure to be with us. Immanuel is not just for Christmas, but is to be embraced for a lifetime. When grief nearly tears us apart, I do not know how I would make it without Him here, holding me so close I can almost feel his heartbeat.

"BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." (Matthew 1:23 NASB)