Immanuel (Dec 12)

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
Today we are back in Isaiah for another name that was given to Jesus our Saviour in the prophecies prior to his birth – Immanuel. Immanuel means God is with us, and it is the very heart of the Christmas message.
Our God is not distant or far off – our God is with us.
In the trials and struggles, the heartbreaks of life – our God is with us.
When the sickness comes, our God is with us.
In the darkest night, our God is with us.
When we feel far from Him, our God is with us.
Through the good times, our God is with us.
Through the hard times, our God is with us.
When we are praising Him, our God is with us.
When we want to run from Him still our God is with us.
In the moments of joy our God is with us.
In the moments when it hurts like hell our God is with us!
Always and forever our God is with us. That is the promise of Christmas. Immanuel – our God is with us! He left the throne of heaven and came down to be with us. He is not distant – He is with us.
He never leaves us or abandons us. He never lets us go through it alone. He promises that when we pass through waters He will be with us and when we walk through fire we will not be burned for our God is with us. (Isaiah 43:2) Though we were dead in our sins and trespasses God came to be with us. Jesus moved into our neighbourhood. He grew and lived among us. While we were still far off from Him God came to be with us, making a way for us to be restored to relationship with Him. And because God is with us we can have confidence no matter what circumstances we face for “if God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31. When our God is with us we can face all the struggles of life knowing that He will sustain us, knowing that through Christ He will enable us to do all that He has planned for us. In the struggles and the heartbreak, in the darkest nights know that you are not in this alone for God is with us, and He cares intimately for us. His Word our hope secures, He will our shield and portion be. Immanuel, our God is with us!