God with Us

Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Emmanuel. God with us. I listened to the words playing in my car. I thought about God's gift of forgiveness wrapped up in human flesh. Skeptics doubt this fact. Believers bank on this as truth. Martyrs die proclaiming this message. Sometimes we act as though Emmanuel was a nickname given to Christ before "Savior", "King of Kings", "Lord of Lords", and "Prince of Peace". We wallow in loneliness, drown in fear and hurt. We text and call anyone who will listen or help. Friends are great to bend an ear,or offer an extended hand. They may even be sent by God at certain times. However, what a friend cannot do is place within us a peace and comfort that stills the soul. To expect this of someone will drain them dry and leave us even more alone. Four times in the Book of John, Jesus mentioned when He left this place called earth, He would send a Comforter. Our Creator knew our need for companionship. He knew our longing for a God who would dwell in and among us. We are not alone. Emmanuel. Prince of Peace. Counselor. Comforter. God with us.