God Is With You.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Matthew 1:23 NIV

The brightly lit house across the street caught my eye as I sat alone in my car on Christmas Eve. I watched as the people inside talked, laughed, and enjoyed their night together. Although I didn’t know them, the sight of a happy family triggered the pain of rejection. Tears slid uncontrollably down my face. I was eighteen, without a career or a college degree, forced to leave my childhood home and figure out how to provide for myself.

Rejection cut me to the core and whispered that I wasn’t good enough, no one wanted me, or cared.

I believed it. As I sat there and sobbed, a sense of peace swept over me, a feeling I couldn’t recall ever having felt of this magnitude. I took a few breaths to calm myself and pictured Jesus coming down from heaven to help and be with me.

Just as a father profoundly cares for his child, God is intimately involved with us. He cares about what goes on in our life and takes an active interest in our needs. 

Contrary to what rejection tells us, we are all valuable, especially to God. He accepts us for who we are and wants to bring peace to our hearts. He is a Wonderful Counselor, an Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. 

Perhaps you’ve experienced rejection and believe the lie that you aren’t good enough, or no one cares. Matthew tells us the name Immanuel means “God with us.” You may accept that God is with us, but you don’t believe God is with you.

Think about what it means for God to be with you.

There is great comfort in knowing Jesus came to earth for you to restore your peace.