Immanuel, God with Us

One night last week my daughter, Mackenna, woke up after what appeared to be a nightmare. She awoke suddenly and her cry indicated that she was afraid, terrified even, and without hesitation Dustin rushed to her room. He soothed her, sang to her, and reassured her that everything was ok. After a few minutes he laid her back down, but within seconds her cries filled the air again. This time it was my turn.

While I held Mackenna, a memory was brought to my mind of the time that we spent with her in the NICU during her first few days of life. While I spent my days with her as she received antibiotics for the infection she was fighting, I wrote her a little lullaby that I would sing when she was hooked up to her IV's and I couldn't hold her. It goes something like this, "Oh Mackenna, Oh Mackenna, you're ok, my baby girl. Oh Mackenna, Oh Mackenna, you're ok, my baby girl. Mommy's here, mommy's here, you're ok my baby girl. Mommy's here, mommy's here, you're ok my baby girl." I would sing this little tune sometimes for twenty minutes. The message was clear, "I am here, you are mine, and you are ok."

After reliving this precious memory, I began to once again sing the song that I had sung to my darling daughter during her first few days of being in this world. And she calmed down. It was a special moment that we shared. I knew that she remembered the song. I could tell by the way she quieted down, her body relaxed, she snuggled closer into my arms, and she drifted back to sleep. She just needed to be reminded that I was there, she was mine, and she was ok.

And then God opened my eyes to see a truth that I so desperately needed last week. I have been pretty anxious about the upcoming delivery of our son, Sawyer. I am scheduled to have a cesarean next Thursday, December 1st. Facing surgery is a bit scary to me. Being awake during surgery is a bit scary to me. I have felt like a scared child the past few weeks. And I was keeping it all to myself. Sure, I would admit to family and close friends that I was a bit nervous. But I was more than a bit nervous, I was terrified. But then God, through this memory, shifted my focus. He convicted my heart and reminded me that when I am afraid I need to cry out to Him, just like Mackenna cries out for me and Dustin when she is afraid. And then He reminded me that He is with me and I am His. It was like He was singing me a lullaby and I quieted down, my body relaxed, I snuggled closer into His arms, and felt His peace.

Matthew 1:23 says, "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means 'God with us')."

God is a personal God. He is not a distant father who shows up for birthdays or special occasions. He's sensitive to His children. He loves us. We know He loves us because He sent Jesus Christ to make it possible for our relationship with Him to be restored. Our sin makes us His enemy, but He wants to be with us, so He made a way for us to be at peace with Him. When we trust Christ as our Savior we become His children. He is with us and we are His. What peace and joy that brings. His wrath is no longer upon us. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. The lullaby of the gospel soothes our souls and allows us to rest in the peace that only God can give, the peace that surpasses all understanding!

Peace

"Peace, You give me peace when the storms come and I'm afraid. Peace, You give me peace when I trust in the words You say. You give me peace."

These words are the lyrics of a children's song by Sovereign Grace Music on the album shown below.



To Be Like Jesus

This album is one of my favorites of "Mackenna's music." But, I must confess, this morning I wanted to listen to it while I was getting ready, despite the fact that Mackenna was napping and the melodies and lyrics would not be reaching her ears. As I was getting ready, the above quoted lyrics hit my heart...hard. These lyrics prompted me to do a quick Biblical word study on "peace." Here are a few of the verses that stood out to my heart.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions;he was crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

"For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed,but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,"says the LORD, who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1

"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Peace.

We all want it. We all search for it. We all strive for it.

But how often do we actually experience it?

Far too often we look for peace in the wrong places. {Disclaimer- I am guilty of this just as much as anyone else} When I am having a stressful day, where do I go for peace? Starbucks, maybe? The television, the mall, the refrigerator (or freezer)? I think our downfall comes from our lack of understanding of what peace truly is and where we can go to get it. One verse that really stood out among the others for me was John 14:27.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

God gives peace. The peace that the world offers is dramatically different than the peace that God gives. This verse clearly distinguishes that God's peace is given to us not as the world's peace is given to us. Peace we achieve from worldly pleasures is fleeting and more often than not results in guilt and further unrest. So, where do we get the peace that God offers?

The Bible. His Word. Christ.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions;he was crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

The peace that our soul aches for is a peace that comes only by accepting Christ as our Savior. It comes from admitting that our hearts are wicked, desperately dark and sinful, and accepting the fact that we are helpless to change that in our own strength. In this dark place is where humility is fostered and Christ's light can shine and lead us to a place of repentance and trust in Him. And there, in that moment, He gives us peace. The peace that our soul aches for comes only through peace with our Creator, against whom we  have rebelled and by whom we deserve to be punished. We all know this deep down in our hearts. We know we are created beings and we know we will be held accountable for our transgressions. The Bible tell us that.

^"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." Romans 1:18-21

But God does not leave us there. He draws us to himself and rather than pouring His wrath upon us, he offers us peace through faith in Him.

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1

Peace will never be found in an Iced Carmel Machiato (one of my favorites). It will never be found in a clean house, a perfectly planned schedule, or a well-behaved child. True peace will only and always be found in Christ. In trusting Him for salvation and then trusting His word in every life circumstance. Is your 16 month old whining, fussing, and refusing to nap? You can have peace knowing that you are at peace with God and this circumstance will give you the opportunity to become more like Christ by showing patience, gently teaching, and loving unconditionally.

My prayer is this: For those of you reading this who have a relationship with Jesus, I pray that you would experience His peace every day by spending time with Him in His Word and prayer. For those of you who may be reading this who don't know if you have ever trusted Christ as your Savior, whose souls are noisy or fearful, I pray that you would not go another day without God's peace. It is available to all who will believe, through Christ alone. 

" 'Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.' Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " John 14: 1, 6

For further reading: Two Ways to Live

Questions? Send me an email, I'd love to talk to you more about God's peace.

trishafolden@gmail.com