God Is With Us

God Is With Us.

Those four words have opened my eyes in a whole new way.  I have been struggling with some things in life lately.  Some of those things are personal to me, but I have also been struggling with the hurt and need around me.  I have a couple friends in particular who are not doing well financially and who are hurting.  Being Christmas and all, it has really bothered me, feeling like there is not much I can do beyond praying for them and listening when they just need to talk.  I have no money to give, and I would gladly give it if I did.  And sometimes I wonder why is it the people who would give have  no money to give and there are people with money who are entirely selfish (not all people with money...I know there are very generous wealthy people out there).  And I have found myself over and over saying, "Gosh, I wish I could just understand it.  I just don't understand".

Last week I attended a Christmas gathering where Kim Bolton was the speaker.  She said something that really caught my attention.  She said we are not called to understand, we are called to obey.  And I think that applies especially when we don't understand.  But I'll get into that another time.

Last night I was at the Candlelight Christmas Concert at Bethany Church.  Two of my girls were singing in the children's choir, and I couldn't wait to go.  And let me tell you, I was blown away!!!!  The talent was unbelievable, and the night is one I will not forget.  But it was more than just the music, although believe you me that would have been enough.  Four words caught my attention.

God is with us.

He is with us always.  He did not leave us when He left the stable.  When He died on a cross.  When He went back to heaven.  He is with us.  The God who knew total abandonment on a cross will never abandon us.  The gift of Christmas is not just that God came to earth.  It's that He is with us still. 

God is with us. 

When life is hard and seems unfair.  When no matter what you do you can't seem to get ahead and it feels like nobody understands or cares.  Yet He understands even better than we do and cares more deeply than we can ever fathom.

God is with us. 

When the money is gone and we don't know where our next meal or rent check will come from.  When we miss those loved ones that we cannot see because they have passed on or because of the selfishness of others.  When we feel so lonely we could just curl up and die.

God is with us.

And because He is always with us, we always have hope.  We always have love.  We always have life.  Life does not depend on little green pieces of paper or people.  Life is a gift from the ultimate source of love and life. 

God is with us.  Hope is not lost, love will live on.  God is with us.