Christmas is such a wonder time of year, yet, many people struggle with loneliness during the holiday season. We feel joy and excitement as we anticipate a memorable time with our family and friends, but the holidays can also dredge up sorrow and loneliness for many people. During this season, we remember who once was with us or what we once did or had and sadness floods in. It’s during these times of aloneness when we often wonder if God knows or cares about us.
The Bible teaches that once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, He comes to live within us. God is not as far away, but rather He’s as close as your next heartbeat. He’s right there with you every second of every minute of every hour. The Bible says in Acts 17:27, “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:” God wants us to draw closer to Him during times of loneliness.
You might feel like God is a million miles away and that He doesn’t even care about what you’re dealing with. But your feelings and reality don’t always match — we all know that’s true. The truth is, God is with you right now, even though you may not be acknowledging His presence. God never forgets us; He never is too busy to listen or care. He is a close, loving Father. In Psalm 145:18, the Bible says, “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” When we call out to God, He’s already near. He thinks about you more than you think about Him! He knows every intimate detail about your life and loves and cares immeasurably for you!
You Are Never Alone!
Emmanuel – God With Us!
The reason Jesus Christ came and died for our sins and rose again from the dead was so that we might be reconciled to God and restore a relationship with Him. In Isaiah 7:14, we are told, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” And again in Matthew 1:27, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” One of the sweetest names given to our Saviour is Emmanuel. It’s very definition reveals the purpose of the coming of Jesus into the world – to be with us!
I want us to think about the name given to our Saviour, both in prophesy by Isaiah, and as recorded by Matthew in his account of the Angel visiting Joseph – the name ‘Emmanuel’.
There are four thoughts I would like to leave with you, each centered around the precious truth that Emmanuel has come – GOD WITH US; and He is with us not only at Christmas, but always!
EMMANUEL – GOD WITH US – IN THE FLESH
How amazing! This is The Word who was in the beginning, the One Who spoke the creation into existence, and He became a human being, and made His home with us – the Creator making ‘his home among us’! What a treasure! As we prepare to celebrate the ‘babe in the manger’, let’s not forget ‘the submitting Sovereign’. He laid aside everything He had with the Father – the worship of the adoring heavenly host – the sublime sinless perfection of heaven – then He came and dwelt among us ‘full of grace and truth’. He came this way to identify with us, and live a sinless life so that He could died for us and be our Saviour.
EMMANUEL – GOD WITH US – AS REDEEMER
Because we were unable to save ourselves from the penalty of sin, Jesus came to bring salvation to us, but at what a cost. Good works were ruined by our sinful nature, so they would not redeem us.
All the wealth of the world and all that it represents could not pay the price of our salvation; your soul is of more value than everything you could imagine.
Sin had to be dealt with by death! Jesus was the perfect death substitute in our place. Our salvation was purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ. Let us not forget that this is a mandatory part of the true meaning of Christmas! He came to be the sacrifice for our sins. What a gift!
EMMANUEL – GOD WITH US – IN ALL FULLNESS
Never forget that Jesus is one-third of the Trinity! He is all the Heavenly Father and all the Holy Spirit. They are three parts of our God
Colossians 2:9 says, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
What a gift! This is about God actually being with us fully! His presence is continually with us, communicating with our spirits and involved in every detail of life. IT’S HIM!!!
I love to read the Scripture in John 14:16-18, where Jesus is promising the coming of His Holy Spirit to the believers on Earth. Read these verses carefully, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
Jesus is teaching His followers about the coming of the precious Holy Spirit. As He describes Him, He closes out His statements with – I will come to you – not He will come to you!”
It’s not that Jesus isn’t there, but rather it’s that we don’t stop and make ourselves become aware of His presence with us. Remember, we must live by faith and not by feelings. Satan wants us to thinks that we are alone and abandoned by our Heavenly Father! Don’t believe the devil’s lies – God is there beside you even in times of loneliness.
EMMANUEL – GOD WITH US – ALWAYS & FOREVER
Even when you don’t “feel” God’s presence, you must choose to believe by faith that He is still with you. You cannot allow your mind to believe the opposite of the Lord’s promises.
Hebrews 13:5 promises…
“… he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Therefore, I choose to be aware of God’s presence even when I don’t feel Him there. Often when you act in faith, the feelings will follow. Your Heavenly Father never leaves or walks out when things get too hard. He never looks at us – gets disgusted by our sin and failures and then gives up on us. He never has more important things or other people to deal with than us. He never wears out or gets tired. He never needs to be fixed or replaced. He’s perfect & powerful. He’s everything! Best of all – HE’S OURS!!! We matter to Him and He never, ever breaks His promises. He is Our Emmanuel – God With Us – Jesus!
Dear friend, God loves you! You are never alone! He cares when you hurt and when you feel lonely. Psalm 34:18 tells us that, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” God does care about your situation. He is close by and He understands. Follow the truth of James 4:8, turn to the Lord, draw closer to Him and find that He draws close to you!