God is with us!
Matthew 1:23- “Look, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son. And they will name him Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.” (EHV)
One of the greatest temptations the devil uses on God’s people is getting us to question whether God is with us or not. Think of all the trials and tribulations we experience every day, the personal tragedies that bring you to your knees. All the while, the thought keeps creeping into the mind and heart, God where are you? Where is God when people are shooting little children? Where is God when my pain too great to bear? Where is God when I cannot overcome my personal demons? And the questions continue to roll through our minds. God where are you!?
The devil would like us to think that God has abandoned us. Perhaps, it was a sin we committed or that God just does not care about our little problems. It seems to us that God is nowhere to be found. This might have been on the minds and hearts of the people in Israel as they waited for the Lord to come. Ever since the prophet Isaiah wrote down these words, the people have been waiting for Immanuel. But nothing was happening. God where are you? God must not care!
But this is a lie and an illusion. The fact is Immanuel! God is with us. Even though Jesus ascended, this name still applies. He is with us. He is with us in our tragedies. He is with us in our pain. He is with us while we are dealing with our personal demons. He is always with us. Our sin cannot chase God away. Immanuel went to the cross to pay for our sin. Immanuel went to the cross to show how much he cares and loves us. Immanuel opened heaven to all of us so that we can be certain, God is with us now and always. And nothing can change this fact. When those questions pop into your hearts and minds, remember Immanuel!
Come Immanuel and comfort the hearts and minds of your people. Let us find comfort in our darkest days, knowing that you are always with us. In your name we pray. Amen.