Immanuel, God With Us

Immanuel. Even the sound of this name has a beautiful ring to it. The Bible tells us that the blessed son of a virgin would be called, Immanuel, which means God with us. When you take the time to actually consider that fact, that God is with us, it truly is humbling and brings such comfort at the same time.

Last fall was a very difficult time for our family. The deterioration of my Dad’s body due to ALS had left him completely paralyzed and unable to communicate. Even though he was paralyzed, he was still in constant pain. My mom was his primary caretaker and she was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. My heart had become so weighed down with sadness. It was heartbreaking to see my parents in so much pain, emotional and physical. Not only that, but my brothers and sisters were feeling helpless and sad too.

Sunday morning, on the 8^th of December, I sat in church in a broken state. The message that day was Immanuel, God with us. As my pastor spoke, I could feel the words going straight to my heart. As I listened to how God is with us even through the deepest pain and times of trials, I couldn’t keep the tears from forming in my eyes. It’s not that I didn’t know this already, but that day it was specifically what I needed to hear. I felt like it was meant just for me.

Sometimes we feel like God has turned a deaf ear to us, but we know, according to his word, that isn’t true. He does hear us. (John 9:31) Sometimes, we feel like he has simply forgotten about us and left us to deal with our pain on our own. That’s how I was feeling that day. That isn’t true either. Hebrew 13:5b says “For He himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Even when we don’t feel Him, He is there.

At the end of the message, my heart was pounding. I knew I had to talk to God right then. As I knelt at the altar, the tears I had tried to hold back became a flood. When I stood and prayed with my pastor, I told him that I felt like God had forgotten my family. Even though I knew it wasn’t true, the pain was still present. I needed to feel God’s peace more than anything.

Five days later, my dad passed away. What a long day that was. My family and I stayed with my mom that night. As I lay in my childhood bed, I began to dread the next few days, days of planning a funeral and saying a final goodbye to my dad. I prayed that God would be with us over the next few days. Before I even finished my thought, I felt him speak to my spirit, “I never left you.” It was so strong and clear, there was no mistaking it was God. It gave me such peace and comfort. He had seen my anguish and consoled me. I knew God was not only with me but with my mom and the rest of my family as well. 

Immanuel, God with us. We think of this name at Christmas because it goes along with the Christmas story. But this is a truth we can hold on to all throughout the year. I’m so glad He is with me, even when it doesn’t feel like it. He never leaves His children alone.