Immanuel: God With Us

With December finally upon us, many of us are looking forward to Christmas: the lights, the parties, the gifts, the food – all of the special things that make this part of the year so special. For far too many, however, the holiday season brings up painful memories of past hurts, broken relationships and loss that can make this season feel even more dark and cold than it already is. With that in mind, all month long we are going to be addressing some of those difficult feelings that many of us wrestle with and see what the advent of Christ over 2,000 years ago means for us today.

Matthew 1:23 tells us, ““Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” This verse reveals a powerful truth about Christ which holds huge implications for all of us today.

Immanuel – God with us. Even if you didn’t know what it means, you’ve probably at least heard that name at some point in your life, but the meaning is so important. It’s one of those concepts that is just so BIG that it almost too much to comprehend, so we will either minimize it’s impact to make it more attainable or else we completely ignore it thinking that it is just too out of reach. For those people who Christmas brings up feelings of loneliness, loss and depression, though, they need something really big to give them hope in this difficult season.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness found that 64% of people living with a mental illness reported that their conditions worsened around the holidays. - https://www.nami.org/Press-Media/Press-Releases/2014/Mental-health-and-the-holiday-blues

Quoting directly from their report -

“The holiday season beams a spotlight on everything that is difficult about living with depression,” said a Massachusetts woman who responded to the survey. “The pressure to be joyful and social is tenfold.”

Approximately 755 of overall respondents reported that the holidays contribute to feeling sad or dissatisfied and 68% financially strained. 66% have experienced loneliness, 63% too much pressure and 57% unrealistic expectations. 55% found themselves remembering happier times in the past contrasting with the present, while 50% were unable to be with loved ones.”

For those who are already grappling with mental illness, the holiday season can increase the challenges they face, but even for those who don’t typically deal with mental issues, Christmas can feel isolating, lonely and sometimes a bitter reminder of past hurts and loss. So, how does the coming of Christ to a manger in Bethlehem a long, long time ago, offer hope and comfort to those of us who are hurting now?

Immanuel – God with us.

Do the holidays seem to only bring grief? “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” - Psalm 34:18

Does Christmas remind you of past hurts which you don’t know if they will ever heal?

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. - Isaiah 61:1-3

Do the parties and celebrations seem to just end up making you feel more alone?

Listen to the words of Jesus from the closing of the book of Matthew, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:20b

What Immanuel means is God with us, but God being with us means that, through Christ, we can have access to the greatest comforter, the greatest physician, the greatest Father, the greatest friend that there could ever be and we have that access to Him at any time. When we remember what Christmas is about, Who Christmas is about, we should be reminded about what it means that God the Son - the Creator of the Universe, perfect, holy, completely set apart – chose to leave His eternal throne in Heaven in order to show His immeasurable love for us by not only dying in our place for our sins, but by living among us and experiencing life with us, as well.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” - Hebrews 4:15-16

God is not far off. He is not distant. He is right here. You are not alone. You are not forsaken. You are not too far gone. If you are hearing this message, then you still have the opportunity to put your trust in Him and experience, for the first time, Christmas the way it was in the beginning – God with us.