Immanuel: God With Us Changes Everything
The clock reads half-past two, and the moon hangs high in the inky black of a December night. I’m lost in deep sleep, and I have no idea that I’m about to have a life-changing encounter with Immanuel—God with Us.
At first, I’m not sure what stirred me from sleep. It takes just a moment before the source of my awakening is clear.
“Mom! I’m sick!” a little boy’s voice calls from across the hallway.
Rushing to his side, I soon realize that this will not be a restful night.
Immanuel: God With Us
Ten minutes later, a huge load of bedding is sloshing in the washing machine, the little boy is fully bathed, and entire rooms have been doused with cleaning solution.
I lie wide-eyed in my bed—listening for so much as a cough from the other room.
Forty minutes later, I have yet to find sleep when I hear him moaning in his bed again. I dash to his side and comfort him.
We repeat this cycle no less than a dozen times throughout the night. My body refuses to rest, and his stomach refuses to settle.
At 5:30 a.m., I utter a prayer that goes something like this, “Father, I am exhausted. I’m worried. I’m desperate for your grace.”
Speak the Name of Immanuel: God With Us
Within minutes, the little boy is sick again, and I rush to his side with bleary eyes and a pounding head. As I hold him, I speak the name, “Jesus.”
I put my hand on his blonde hair as I say it: “Jesus.”
Angels don’t descend into the room, and little Aiden doesn’t suddenly recover. However, as I speak the Name, something seems to shift. It’s a shift in the spiritual atmosphere of the room and a shift in my soul.
Jesus is Immanuel, God With Us.
He is with our little boy in his sickness, and he’s with this exhausted mother.
For the first time all night, I breathe deeply. I know that we are held.
Returning to my bed, I consider the gift we find in Emmanuel—God with Us.
I remember words I wrote years ago:
Have you ever reached the end of your rope and wondered where to turn next? By the grace of God, when we reach our breaking points, we often find God’s open arms beneath us, waiting to catch us. Sometimes, it takes coming to the end of our strength to encounter the One whose strength is always sufficient.
Sometimes, it takes coming to the end of our strength to encounter the One whose strength is always sufficient. #GodsGrace #grace #TrustingGod Click To TweetGood Breaking Points
Maybe it took reaching this breaking point to prepare my heart to celebrate the gift of this Christmas season. The world is adorned with colorful lights as we all give glory to the Incarnate King. Meanwhile, how often do we slow down to embrace the striking reality that the King of Kings bent low to live among us?
He is Immanuel, and he is still here among us.
He is here beside the sickbeds and hospital beds.
Immanuel is with us in our worries, disappointments, and uncertainties. He will never leave us.
He walks with us through the darkest valleys (Psalm 23:4), and he rescues us with his righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he spoke these words, “And lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Sadly, our vision tends to become clouded by the concerns, distractions, and temptations of life. It’s easy to quit watching for God with Us.
How to Encounter Immanuel, “God With Us”
Today, let’s thank the Lord that he is in our midst. Let’s also take a few moments to look at the unexpected places God often chooses to show up with the greatest power in our lives:
1. Immanuel, “God With Us” often makes himself known in our suffering.
Psalm 34:18 reminds us that God is close to the brokenhearted.
It’s easy to buy the lie that God has abandoned us during long seasons of suffering; however, if we keep our hearts soft, some of the most profound encounters with God often happen in the valley of suffering.
In our weakness, God makes his power known.
My darkest seasons in life have also been the seasons of greatest growth. Immanuel was with me, even when I did not sense his presence.
2. Immanuel, “God With Us” often reveals himself through interruptions to our plans.
If there’s one place where I tend to forget about encountering God, it’s when my plans are interrupted.
Whether it’s a small interruption in the middle of a full day or a larger interruption that throws the course of our lives off track for months, I often forget to watch for God’s hand amid life’s interruptions. Broken appliances, flat tires, sick children, and family emergencies often feel like detours. Meanwhile, God’s assignments are hidden within these unexpected circumstances.
As Henri Nouwen once suggested, interruptions often feel like they hinder my work; more accurately, the interruptions are my work.
3. We encounter Immanuel when fear prompts us to look toward him.
Nothing leads me to take my eyes off Christ like a battle with fear.
Sadly, when I let fear become my focus, I worship my fear. Fear dominates my thoughts and preoccupies my mind. We cannot worship God while worshiping our fears.
Meanwhile, when we learn to view fear, worry, and anxiety as reminders to turn toward Jesus for help, these emotions become vessels of grace. They lead us straight to the One who will never leave us.
He is God with Us, and he is faithful.
A Free Devotional for You
I have a gift for you today. Hope for Hard Days is my free 10-day online devotional to help you hold onto hope when life is tough. You will find 10 readings to help you connect with God and claim his peace. Click here and I’ll send it to your email inbox today for free with promo code HOPE.
These Two Books are Free on Kindle Unlimited as eBooks and Also Available in Print:
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book in eBook form for free on the Kindle Unlimited Plan or for 12.99 in print right here. (You can sign up for a free three-month Kindle Unlimited trial if you are not a member.) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
Calling All Moms and Daughters!
Additionally, my 12-year-old daughter, Bekah, and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book to help mothers and daughters grow closer together while connecting with God. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section. Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by this book! You can find this book in eBook form for free on the Kindle Unlimited Plan or buy a print copy for 11.99 right here.
