(The following is the January 1 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Matthew 1 and pay close attention to verses 18-23.)
Have you ever felt distant from God? Perhaps you believed God was somewhere - just not with you. Perhaps you’ve longed for his presence but failed to experience it. Maybe you’ve distanced yourself from him because having a holy God nearby would inhibit your unholy plans.
Feelings are often unreliable gauges of reality. If we believe in God’s ability to be everywhere at once, then there’s no place on Earth to escape his presence. David acknowledged this: “Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I fly on the wings of the dawn and settle down on the western horizon, even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me” (Ps. 139:7-10). David may not have always felt God’s nearness, but he still trusted in and praised God for his presence.
God’s presence with us is evident in the name “Immanuel:” “Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,’ which is translated ‘God is with us’” (vv. 22-23).
“God is with us” is a remarkable assurance. He is present when nothing is going right, when we lose loved ones, and when people hurt us. God is with us when we can’t pay our bills, when unexpected circumstances force significant life changes, and when we receive an unwanted medical diagnosis. As we approach life’s end and know that we will soon pass from this life to the next, God is still with us.
Our great Immanuel, Jesus, has come. Let us trust his Word’s assurance more than our feelings and praise him for his continuous presence.
Next Step:
Choose a recent period (a day, week, month, year, etc.) and reflect on how God was with you both in the good and bad times. Thank him for as many specific moments of his presence as you can recall.
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