It may seem a little early for the name Emmanuel, because, if you are anything like me, it brings Christmas to the forefront of the thought process. Isaiah 7 or Matthew 1 pops to my head which are traditionally an Advent texts. However, the name Emmanuel has been on my heart and mind a lot this week. Emmanuel is more than a name; it is a promise. God with us. Emmanuel does not mean God was with us, but it is in the present tense always: God (is always) with us.
In the valley, through the storm, in the midst of doubt God is still Emmanuel. During doctor's visits, at school, holding my beautiful nephew God is still Emmanuel. In the spring, during the summer, as we walk through fall and roll through winter God is still Emmanuel. Through the dark and in the light Emmanuel is still there.
There are a lot of things that I struggle with in the walk towards the heart of Christ, but God's omnipresence is not one of them. I believe theologically that God is indeed Emmanuel at all times, in all places. However, what I have a hard time with is feeling it to be true and to be Him. There are moments that I know that I know that I know theologically that God HAS to be there; yet I cannot feel it to be true, I cannot sense His presence-- I feel alone. Then there are times that I want to be left alone and God's presence becomes all too real.
Today, I am going to try to rest in the knowledge that no matter what my Emmanuel is here.
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