God With Us

Life has its wonderful moments, and its times of pain. There are surprises and disappointments, encouraging days and frustrating hours. Life is a rollercoaster of uncertainties. Often times the beautiful moments are quickly dampened by deeper issues that rise to the surface in the midst of our joy. Often times it is this undercurrent of joy and peace that keeps us going when the rapids threaten to steal away everything we hold dear. Life is uncertain. Life is anything but what we expect it to be at any given moment.

It is easy to lose sight of what is truly important when we travel on the road of life. We focus so intently on the step ahead (or the next 14 steps ahead) that we forget to look to the One guiding us. In our desperation to understand the road we are on, we often forget that life is not about the destination, or the check points along the way; life is about the journey, and who we become on that journey.

Most importantly, life is about Who we are walking with on that journey.

I am learning more and more that all that really matters is that I am walking with God. As long as I remember to look to my right, to see His fingers interlaced with mine, I know I'm going to be okay. In the middle of the chaos, He is my refuge and strength. He is my Comforter, my stronghold, my Giver of peace. He is my steady undercurrent of joy that will always be the foundation of my life, whether the rapids rage or the stream passes peacefully along. He is the beat to my heart when I forget to feel, the breath in my lungs when I forget to rest.

In all the hard times of my life, the times of searching, the times of disbelief, grief, and anger, God has never left my side. He never will leave my side. He travels with me still. "Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me." (Psalm 23:4).

The saving grace in my times of disappointment and hopelessness is the reminder that "God will never leave me or forsake me" (Hebrews 13:5, Deut. 31:6 NIV). The NLT version reads, "God will never fail me. God will never abandon me."

God is on our side. Of whom, of what, shall we be afraid?

God is our Guide, our constant Provider. (Psalm 37:23-24, Psalm 37:34, Psalm 40:1-3, Psalm 43:3, etc.)

God is our hope, our salvation. "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again, my Savior and my God!" (Psalm 42:11)

God is with us. Emmanual, the name prophesied to be given to Jesus, the Messiah, means "God with us". God made himself known to the Israelites throughout the Old Testament, but never was God so present as when He walked this earth as His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus came to bridge the gap of sin that kept us from being with God eternally. Now, because of Jesus' blood and His gift of the Holy Spirit (our Guide, Comforter, and Couselor), God is with us always. All we need to do is look to the right, and see His fingers interlaced with ours, holding our hand through every joy, every trial, and every uncertain (or certain!) step.

In Isaiah 41:13, God makes this promise to us: "For I hold you by your right hand -- I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, 'Don't be afraid. I am here to help you.'"

The verse that really encourages me in my uncertainties comes from Psalm 73:23-26: "Yet I still belong to You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart, He is mine forever."

This passage covers everything -- all the important aspects of our journeys. The psalmist does not describe the journey, or the importance of the next step. The passage begins with declaring that WE BELONG TO GOD, and that He holds our right hand and guides us with His wisdom and knowledge that stem from His everlasting goodness. The psalmist goes on to say how God is everything we need, and all we could ever desire -- that He is the strength and hope that we need to persevere, the very beat of our hearts.

"Come close to God, and God will come close to you." (James 4:8)

Emmanual. God with us. Then, now, and forevermore.

You are my Hope, You are my Song, You are my Light, You are my Salvation. ("You Are My Hope" by Cory Asbury).

"Send out Your light and Your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You live!" (Psalm 43:3)

Emmanual. God with us. With us then, with us still, with us eternally. He's faithful to the end. He's faithful to our hearts.

Amen.