With the countdown to Christmas and New Year’s begun, we set our sights on the true meaning of the season: Immanuel—God With Us.

Have you ever considered how a holy, righteous, omnipotent, omniscient God could have simply said to us, “You’re going to need to figure out a way to get to Me,” … or “You’ll need to meet all these strict requirements to reach me.” But the very fact that we can call Him “God With Us” is a miracle. He came to us, to seek and save that which was lost.

This Christmas, each time you hear the word Immanuel, think about what this actually means for you … God came after you… We don’t “find God,” He finds us.

We all have suffered great loss in life. Something at one point you could not imagine being broken was broken. We know what it means for our hearts to be broken and our lives to be wracked with grief, to live in a state of sorrow. For that very reason, the message, the reminder, that Immanuel—God with Us—has come for us is so important for us to focus on this season.

Right now, you may be in the very beginning stages of grief, of sorrow. You may be right in the middle heartache and pain is with you every day. Or you could be coming out of a storm and have begun your journey of healing. No matter where you are, today, right now, God is with you, whether you care right now or not, whether you feel Him or not, He is with You. I want to encourage you to never confuse God allowing something to happen as God not caring for you. He never promised to take us out of this broken and fallen world, but He did promise to be with us when life breaks us and things fall apart.

Listen to Isaiah’s prophecy given to him by God 700 hundred years before Christ was born.

(Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7 NLT)

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever… there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. … For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

We have the privilege of living on the other side of this prophecy. Listen to these ancient words and realize what has actually happened.

The Wonderful Counselor that Isaiah promised has come.

The Mighty God has made Himself known.

The Everlasting Father is present right now.

The Prince of Peace is ready to remove the chaos, heal the hurt, and replace your sorrow with joy.

What is most real about God to you right now?

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace

He is Immanuel—God with … you.

Pray with me: “Immanuel, when I struggle in my hurt, when I doubt and question Your goodness, when I think no one cares, please allow me to feel Your presence in my soul, my heart, in the air I breathe, and the very life You give. Immanuel - God with us.”

Side Dish: More with Mary Elizabeth Ellis