You know how God has to sometimes put something in front of us a few times before we notice it?
Well, for me, it’s been the simple phrase: God with us.
I’ve been thinking and pondering the significance of that simple statement… and was sort of oblivious to the fact that it was also the theme of Willow Creek’s Christmas service, which I attended this weekend.
When the angel appeared to Mary in the ever-familiar Christmas story, it was proclaimed Jesus’ would be Immanuel, meaning… God with us.
What does it mean to be “with someone”?
It means to be in close proximity, not just physically, but emotionally. It’s an intimate togetherness.
God wants to be with us… it’s wrapped up in the very character and nature of who He is. He designed us for relationship with Him.
I think we don’t think of God and us like that.
I think too often we think God AGAINST us… God SILENT towards us… God is DISTANT from us… God HATES us… but through Jesus, we know God is WITH us.
I’ll be honest, this year has been full of amazing opportunity, new friendships and great moments, but it’s also been wrought with some hard moments, tough decisions, and disappointments.
In moments like those it’s easy to think that God is far away, but I guess the thing I’ve discovered sometimes when you look around and don’t see Him it’s because He’s right beside you or in places you may not expect.
So, moving into a new year [and a new decade!] it’s my prayer that we can live knowing God is WITH us. As we obediently follow Him and His leading, He is with us and promises to give us the strength we need to live out the life He’s calling us to live and give us everything we need to accomplish what He’s asking us to do.
One of the beautiful truths that Bill Hybels shared in his message during the Willow Creek service was…
“one of the best ways to see ‘God with us’ is in the faces and stories of people around us… “
As various people from Willow Creek began to share their stories and how God intervened and was “with them” I realized that one of the most vital ways we make it through life is through community. Through the people around us who speak life into ours and who do life with us. People who laugh and cry with us; people who listen and give advice.
In one of the final moments of the service as we were singing a song about “God with us” people all around the auditorium stood up with signs… some said “all shall be well…” others said “God with us.”
It was a beautiful reminder and profoundly moving… HUGE props to the entire team at Willow.
I pray this Christmas season, no matter what you may be trusting God for in the New Year that you will know… all shall be well… God is with us… and He is with YOU.
Merry Christmas!
