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“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).
I thought this Christmas would be like all the rest—mainly joyful with a sprinkle of stress and chaos. What I’ve found, however, is a heart searching for something that nothing in this world will ever satisfy.
In between wrapping presents, buying last minute gifts on Amazon, baking cookies, learning choir songs, reading an advent devotional, and trying to get ahead on work, my mind felt dizzy and overstimulated. This was supposed to be the best season. A restful season. And yet all I felt was tired. Tired of doing. Tired of creating. Tired of trying to feel joy in what used to be my favorite holiday.
But over the years, I’ve learned that two things can be true at once. I can enjoy the Christmas season, but I still long for memories from my childhood. I can have fun cutting down a Christmas tree, but cry when it’s time to throw it out and begin the new year. I can be present in the moment with my husband, but long for those who have passed from this side of Heaven.
The beauty of verses like Matthew 1:23 are that God is *with* us no matter where we find ourselves this holiday season.
For those of you curled up on the couch watching your fifth Hallmark movie and crying because you’re not sure when your Mr.Right will ever find you (I see you, by the way), He’s crying with you. You have no reason to be ashamed or defeated. He’s with you.
For those of you sitting at the graveside, wondering why they had to be taken too soon, God is with you, holding you tight, and comforting your weary soul. He promises to wipe every tear, and He cares about the sorrows of your soul.
For those of you trying to be present, but being pulled in a million directions, He looks to you like He did Mary and Martha, and says, “Child, choose what’s necessary right now.” It’s a simple invitation not to just lay your worries down, but to ask Him to help you prioritize what matters most in the here and now.
Emmanuel, meaning God *with* us, is my favorite name for God in the entire Bible. It’s my favorite because it reminds me that God is with us, period. And not only that, but His Holy Spirit lives within us. It’s alive and active, and sometimes we simply need that reminder. Because God is with us even in the difficult and often uncelebrated moments.
If you’re struggling this holiday season, no matter what it is, or where you are, I want you to know that God is with you.