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God is with us
The Christmas season is just behind us. Like the fog, all signs of Christmas will disappear in our newspapers, on television, in shop windows, on the street and in homes.
You have probably heard the saying, "Christmas only happens once a year". The Christmas story is good news from a God who doesn't just stop by occasionally, as He did with the people of Israel. It is a story about Immanuel, “God with us” - who is always present.
When the storms of life are beating down on us from all sides, it is difficult to realize that God is with us. We may feel that God is asleep, as when Jesus was in the boat with his disciples: “And he got into the boat, and his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a mighty storm on the sea, so that the boat was also covered by the waves. But he was asleep. And they came to him and woke him up, saying, Lord, help us, we are perishing” (Matthew 8,23-25).
At the time Jesus' birth was predicted, it was a tumultuous situation. Jerusalem had been attacked: “Then it was announced to the house of David: The Arameans have encamped in Ephraim. Then his heart and the hearts of his people trembled, as the trees of the forest tremble before the wind [storm]” (Isaiah 7,2). God recognized the great fear King Ahaz and his people were in. So he sent Isaiah to tell the king not to fear, for his enemies would not succeed. Like most of us in such situations, King Ahaz did not believe. God sent Isaiah again with a different message: "Ask for a sign from the Lord your God [to prove that I will destroy your enemies as promised], whether it be on the bottom or on high!" ( Isaiah 7,10-11). The king felt embarrassed to test his god by asking him for a sign. That is why God said through Isaiah, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin is with child and will give birth to a son, and she will call his name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7,14). To prove that He would deliver her, God gave the sign of the birth of Christ, which one would call Immanuel.
The Christmas story should remind us daily that God is with us. Even if the situation looks bleak, even if you have lost your job, even if a dear person has died, even if you have failed in your course, even if your spouse has left you - God is with you!
It doesn't matter how dead your situation is, God lives in you and He brings life to your dead situation. "Do you believe that"? Just before Jesus was crucified and returned to heaven, his disciples became very concerned that he would no longer be with them. Jesus said to them:
"But because I have spoken this to you, your heart is filled with sorrow. But I'll tell you the truth: It's good for you that I'm going away. For unless I go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you" (John 16,6 -8th). That Comforter is the Holy Spirit who dwells within you. “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8,11).
God is always with you. May you experience Jesus' presence today and forever!
by Takalani Musekwa
