Matthew 1:23, “Listen! The
virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a Son, and He
shall be called “Emmanuel” (meaning “God Is With Us.”) (TLB)
During the holidays you have to admit there’s quite a bit that can make you cry!
Seeing family, exchanging gifts, watching kid’s faces light up, reading
heart-felt cards and the like. However, there’s an even bigger Kleenex moment that transpired one Christmas season to top all of that for sure. You see, pretty much like the ‘first Christmas’, there was a newborn baby involved…but no manger this time. Just a Jumbotron screen at an Anaheim Ducks hockey game, of all places!
Here’s what happened: Sergeant First Class Robert Vandenberg had been gone for ten months. He’d never seen his newborn son. He was far away in Afghanistan when little Travis was born. So all eyes were on the big screen when he appeared suddenly to – at least in this small way – be “home” for Christmas. It was Skype from Romania. That’s how his wife, and his one-year-old son, little Travis would make a connection this Christmas season. But with thousands watching this touching reunion by screen, the Technology Grinch suddenly showed up! There was barely time for “hellos” before the sergeant started disappearing in a spasm of static! Sadly, his wife handed the microphone back to a team rep.
But, it was at that very
moment, Sergeant Vandenberg walked down the steps of the arena and right
into the arms of his wife! Then he picked up his new son and held him
up in front of him – looking in his eyes for the very first time!
Now, truth is, I don’t know if
they sell Kleenex at the stadium concession stands, but if they do, you
can bet your last dollar they sold out that night! I can’t even imagine
the many people who were watching this transpire in their own homes on
their own televisions! Oh how the tears must have flowed freely, snot
and all!
I must say in discovering this
story I was greatly touched by their moving reunion because I was
reminded of my personal experience with the ‘first Christmas’ for
myself.
Christmas – when a God we thought was so very far away came down to where we are, to hold us close. John
6:38 says, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will,
but to do the will of Him who sent Me.” (AMP); John 3:13 says, “No one
has gone up into heaven, but there is One who came down from heaven, the
Son of Man [Himself – whose home is heaven].” (AMP)
Can you imagine
Jesus loving us so much to leave His home in heaven to come to earth to
see about us?
In fact, the ancient prophecy of the coming Messiah predicted it. And Matthew 1:23 also declares it, “‘A virgin shall be with child and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, ‘God with us’“. Not
just God projected on the screen of some church monitor or religious
act either. But God right here! God up close and personal! God with us,
God in us!
But for many of us, and far
too often, however, He has seemed far away? Such as in those distressing
moments when you receive the diagnosis; when there was an unexpected
lay-off, family death, or loss of housing. Those times when you didn’t
see the divorce coming, or your finances drastically leaving. Those
times when you cry for anything, everything and nothing, and there’s not
a sole around to wipe your tears, give you a shoulder to lean on or an
encouraging word or hug. Truth is, holiday or not, life can be extremely
hard sometimes. And it’s in those moments when it seems like God is on
that big Jumbotron screen, and you see Him for a brief moment, than life
happens, and there’s a glitch in the connection and just like that, you
don’t see Him, you don’t feel Him, you don’t hear Him. Ever felt like
that? I know I have.
You see, those are the kinds
of stories I’ve been listening to in varying counseling sessions over
the last few weeks leading up to this Christmas holiday season. Believe
it or not, but not everyone is smiling, happy, filled with joy, buying
presents and holding their breath waiting for Christmas morning to
arrive. No, there are some who lost loved ones during this time last
year, and so this is their first year without them, and to say the
experience is hard, is the understatement of the year! I know this for
certain just by what my own family is personally experiencing this
Christmas with loss. You see, in January 2015 we buried my mom’s older
sister, right after the Christmas holidays no less. And then in
2016 on December 14th, my mom’s baby sister passed away
unexpectedly. And to make matters worse, we buried her just 3 days after
Christmas. My mom was heartbroken because she couldn’t travel to the
funeral services because of her own health challenges. And to add salt
to an already painful wound, my cousins whose mom we buried right after
Christmas, just loss their dad, my uncle, barely 6 months prior to
losing their mom. And still the greatest loss for me in all of this is
losing my mom in 2017 on April 1st, after a very lengthy journey of health struggles. November 24th
of that same year she would have turned 70 years young, and the day before that was her
favorite holiday of them all, Thanksgiving, which we had to celebrate
for the first time without her presence and her favored culinary
abilities! And then we had to prepare to face the challenge of our first
Christmas without mom or dad!
I share this with you because sometimes
we’re so immersed in the holidays that we assume everyone is just as
joyful. But pain and loss have a way of sucking even the carols out of
Christmas…Even if only for a little while…
There are times in life when you can’t put on your ‘I’m alright’ face.
You can’t dance, clap, shout, spin, run and speak in tongue over this
one. You can’t dress it up in fancy holiday attire, robes or crosses.
You don’t have the eloquent prayers to reach heaven with, not for this
one. And out of all the Scriptures you know, pain and loss have a way of
making you forget even the simplest of Psalm 23. Sometimes you can’t ‘fake it till you make it.’ Sometimes you can’t attend the parties, grin and smile, and wear your red, and celebrate! Even if only for a little while…
Now, that’s just my ordeal,
but like I said, it’s been that kind of counseling for the last few
weeks for many. Some are having their first Christmas after the divorce;
others after their child died; others after the doctor dropped the
Cancer bomb on them. Then there are others who medicate themselves with
alcohol, drugs or sex. And then there are those who are on prescription
meds and still it’s hard. Others are suicidal, depressed, lonely, and
hurting.
BUT before you think that’s how this devotional ends, let me correct you…
Thinking back to the dad in
the beginning of the story who stepped away from the screen, and
stepping on the stage instead, God has a way of doing just that for us
as well! In fact, that’s what encouraged me! Listen: Matthew 1:23 reads, “‘A virgin shall be with child and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, ‘God with us’” Despite what we may have to face here on earth, the one guarantee we have is “God With Us.” Even in the midst of trials, struggles, pain, hurt, disappointment and the like, God is still with us! Hebrews
13:5 says, “for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances]
desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in
any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or
relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” (AMP) I tell you, there is no
greater comfort than God!
Yes, I know it’s painful, and still it can’t deprive you of the promise God has made to you to ‘NEVER LEAVE YOU UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES’!
Truthfully,
we can’t count very many people who could make such a promise and keep
it, but Jesus is a Promise Keeper! Even when it feels, seems, sounds and
looks as though He is so very far away, be encouraged, God is Still
With YOU! In fact, what I love most about this Scripture is the detail
He goes into: “I will never leave you, never
desert you, you’ll never be without My support, I’ll never leave you
helpless, I’ll never relax my hold on you”. Does that sound like He’s far away? Out of touch? Can’t reach us? Not at all!
And that’s what made me smile
today! The reminder that no matter how much I hurt, HE will always be
with me! And furthermore, our hurt won’t last always! Yes, we’ll cry,
we’ll wonder, we’ll question, we’ll hurt…but we’ll get strong again, and
recover.
Listen: One of the greatest
gifts, besides salvation, is knowing that Jesus didn’t come just to
leave! He loves us so much that He’s going to return for us, and while
He’s in heaven, He’s loved us once again so much, that He couldn’t leave
us without comfort! John 14:26, “But the
Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor – Counselor, Strengthener,
Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My
place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all
things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.”
(AMP)
We are never without comfort, support, love and strength, Jesus made sure of it!
So, even if you aren’t at your
happiest or your strongest this holiday season, know that you are never
alone, and God is not far away, but with you and in you! And by all
means please know that it is okay for you to be honest about your hurt
and where you really are mentally, emotionally, physically and
spiritually. You have nothing to prove to anyone. And addressing your
weakness does not take away His strength. Jesus wept, and so can you!
Which is why I shared some of my personal holiday hurts this year.
Because so many get caught up in our titles, initials, degrees, and
positions, that they don’t know that we hurt no different than anyone
else! Our talent doesn’t exempt us; our anointing doesn’t exempt us; our
gifts don’t exempt us! Bishops, Pastors, Elders, Evangelists,
Ministers, Deacons, Missionary’s, Ushers, Trustees, Choir Members,
Musicians, Greeters, and the like…ALL go through uphill battles of hurt
and it doesn’t take away a drop of your anointing because you shed drops
of tears! Let no one attempt to make you feel bad because ‘the people
don’t need to see you like this’. Oh yes they do! If for no other reason
than for them to relate as you become identifiable! Even Jesus didn’t
hide the scars in His hands from the hurt He received at the hands of
others!
So, family, know for certain that it is okay not to be ‘over-flowing’ with
the holiday spirit. But also know that you have no need to wallow in
dread. Your Immanuel Has Not Left You Nor Will He Ever! And He Loves You
So Much That Even the Father Intervened to Send a Comforter in His Name
to Represent Him. Your God is Never far away! And there are no painful
glitches in life that can remove His presence from you. Read His Word,
Pray, Praise, Worship…and also Cry in your Prayer Closet releasing all
of your agony to Him. He understands, and He’s not going anywhere!
Hebrews
4:15 informs us, “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to
sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who
has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every
respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.” (AMP)
We
serve a Savior who knows exactly how it feels to be human! That’s why
we can tell Him our deepest hurts, weaknesses and fears, He understands,
He cares, He’s present there with you and always will be!
Now, there are indeed some
holiday guests that I want gone before they get in the house
good…lol…but that is never the case with Jesus! I’m grateful He came and
even more grateful that He never goes!
Therefore, brothers and
sisters, be encouraged, He’s there. Don’t let the noise of the world
crowd out His still small voice. His hand is still there to hold you.
His ears are always open to your voice. And His eyes stay razor-sharp
focused on you. Your Expected Guest Immanuel is With You, even when Your
Uninvited Guest of Life’s Struggles shows up to crash the holiday
party!
So, Prepare yourself to enjoy
this Christmas Holiday knowing that your Best Present is His
Never-Ending Presence! It’s already getting better, so start smiling in
advance! For this is ONE Christmas Guest that has come to STAY!
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