“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Matthew 1:23 NIV)
Those who have experienced the constant presence of God amidst the difficult times, appreciate the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) (Isaiah 7:14). I don’t know where I would be without God in my life, but I do know that I need Him every day. As I get older and as life gets harder, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I need this God who doesn’t just dwell in the highest heavens, but also in the lowly of hearts. The God who didn’t just create the world and everything in it, but the one who also chose to live in it. He is Emmanuel: God with us.
For me, this has become one of the most comforting truths in the Christmas story. Yes, I needed saving, but I also needed to feel God. When life gets dark, I need the light of His presence to guide me along the right path. When life’s storms throw me around, I need His hand to pull me back up. When I’m overcome with sorrow, I need His joy to sustain me. As I reflect on the coming of Emmanuel, I’m comforted in knowing that I am never alone because He was always there, He is always there and He will always be there with me.
Rising with the Son 