All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).
I keep thinking about the name Immanuel. It means God With Us. The name given long before the angel spoke to Joseph and said, “You are to name him Jesus.” A name spoken by the prophet that declares the very nature of God. That four-letter word “with” has lots to reveal.
For God is not ruling from on high
or rumbling from below.
He is not watching from a distance
or waiting behind closed doors.
God’s not keeping score
or prodding us to reach a goal.
He doesn’t set us up to fail
nor abandon us in our mess.
God is with us.
alongside
holding our hand
taking each step
breathing each breath.
God endures our pain
and celebrates our joys.
Every moment
every day
Immanuel.
God with you
God with me
God With Us.
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