God With Us
A few days ago, I stood in an operating room with my daughter as she prepared to undergo a procedure. It was a basic procedure, one we had gone through with her three times before, but this was my first time inside an operating room. If you’ve never been in one, it can be an intimidating place.
As I stood there, I tried to stay calm for my daughter, but my anxiety began to rise. As a parent, it’s never easy to see your children stressed or going through difficult experiences. Despite my nerves, I managed to remain composed and be a calming presence for her. Then, as she drifted off to sleep, I made my way to the waiting room.
Honestly, at that point, I was an emotional mess. Sitting in the waiting room, I kept thinking about something I said to her before she fell asleep. I told her, “Jesus is here with you. He’s not going to leave you, and He’s going to take care of you.” At the time, I said it to comfort her, but as I sat there, those words replayed in my mind over and over.
As we approach the Christmas season, I’ve been reflecting on this passage a lot:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” - Matthew 1:23
One of Christ’s names is Immanuel, which means “God with us.”
God has been taking me on a journey this past year, reminding me repeatedly that He is a present God. He is always there—always pursuing, lingering, aware, and available. So much so that He attached His name to it. It is who He is, not just something He does.
As someone who has struggled with fear and abandonment issues, this truth hasn’t been easy for me to grasp. It’s taken me a long time, and I’m still learning it. But what I love about God is that He continually shows me how much He loves me.
The holiday season can be magical and joyous for some; but for others, it’s a time of grief, anxiety, and stress. It can be a season of missing those we’ve lost, facing financial strain, or feeling the weight of what we lack. This time of year often stirs up a mix of emotions.
Sitting in that waiting room, I remembered something a wise friend told me: Scripture teaches us that “Perfect love casts out all fear.” He asked me, “Where do you find perfect love? It’s only found in the presence of Jesus.”
In this season, whether it feels heavy with emotions or if fear is something you wrestle with regularly, the only place we find true peace is in His presence. And the beauty of that truth is that He is always present. He is Immanuel.
I don’t know what season you’re in right now, but I want to encourage you to take time today to invite the presence of God wherever you are. I believe God wants to show you how close He really is—that you’re never alone.
As a dad, what brought me the most peace in that moment was knowing God was with my girl. He was standing by the operating table with her. He had her, He had me, and He has you too.
“I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.”
Psalm 139:7-12
Here are a few tips to invite the presence of God into your life:
I hope this helps you, and I pray you have a holiday season filled with the peace that only He can give.
As I stood there, I tried to stay calm for my daughter, but my anxiety began to rise. As a parent, it’s never easy to see your children stressed or going through difficult experiences. Despite my nerves, I managed to remain composed and be a calming presence for her. Then, as she drifted off to sleep, I made my way to the waiting room.
Honestly, at that point, I was an emotional mess. Sitting in the waiting room, I kept thinking about something I said to her before she fell asleep. I told her, “Jesus is here with you. He’s not going to leave you, and He’s going to take care of you.” At the time, I said it to comfort her, but as I sat there, those words replayed in my mind over and over.
As we approach the Christmas season, I’ve been reflecting on this passage a lot:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” - Matthew 1:23
One of Christ’s names is Immanuel, which means “God with us.”
God has been taking me on a journey this past year, reminding me repeatedly that He is a present God. He is always there—always pursuing, lingering, aware, and available. So much so that He attached His name to it. It is who He is, not just something He does.
As someone who has struggled with fear and abandonment issues, this truth hasn’t been easy for me to grasp. It’s taken me a long time, and I’m still learning it. But what I love about God is that He continually shows me how much He loves me.
The holiday season can be magical and joyous for some; but for others, it’s a time of grief, anxiety, and stress. It can be a season of missing those we’ve lost, facing financial strain, or feeling the weight of what we lack. This time of year often stirs up a mix of emotions.
Sitting in that waiting room, I remembered something a wise friend told me: Scripture teaches us that “Perfect love casts out all fear.” He asked me, “Where do you find perfect love? It’s only found in the presence of Jesus.”
In this season, whether it feels heavy with emotions or if fear is something you wrestle with regularly, the only place we find true peace is in His presence. And the beauty of that truth is that He is always present. He is Immanuel.
I don’t know what season you’re in right now, but I want to encourage you to take time today to invite the presence of God wherever you are. I believe God wants to show you how close He really is—that you’re never alone.
As a dad, what brought me the most peace in that moment was knowing God was with my girl. He was standing by the operating table with her. He had her, He had me, and He has you too.
“I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.”
Psalm 139:7-12
Here are a few tips to invite the presence of God into your life:
- Ask. Simply ask the Holy Spirit to come and dwell with you. Invite Him in.
- Posture. Position your heart to be available to whatever God says or asks. Be willing to be vulnerable and open.
- Praise & Worship. Take time to praise God for what He has done and worship Him for who He is. Gratitude and humility are keys to experiencing the presence of God.
I hope this helps you, and I pray you have a holiday season filled with the peace that only He can give.
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3 Comments
This was beautiful!
Simple truths but yet so convicting
“and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” - Matthew 1:23
n
nGod is Always With Us!