The God Who Keeps His Promises (God with Us)
by Tracey Gudeman
Christmas is the celebration of a kept promise.
For generations, God’s people waited — longing for a Savior, clinging to words spoken through the prophets: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
Then, at the appointed time, God fulfilled His promise. Jesus was born — not in a palace, but in a manger — and with His arrival, every other promise of God found its “Yes” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Sometimes I feel caught between the promises of the now, and the not yet, probably not unlike the Old Testament prophets as they proclaimed the coming of Jesus, often in times of great danger, but were stuck in “the waiting” for their promised Messiah.
Although God promises to never forsake us (Deut. 31:6), it’s so easy to feel forsaken when life has unexpectedly taken a difficult turn. I felt that way when praying for my best friend to be healed last summer. When she wasn’t, it was easy to wonder if my prayers had been forsaken. I know the answer is “no,” but sometimes it feels like “yes.” But that’s the problem: feelings often mislead and betray us, but God‘s promises and our security in them are far more than feelings; they are Truth. And the truth is, I was invited into a year long conversation with the God of the universe about someone I dearly loved, but in the end, only he decided the outcome because he sees clearly while I see dimly (1Cor 13:12). How can I possibly argue with him when I’m the one with the distorted view, and my best friend lives out Christmas every day in the presence of her Savior?
You, like me, might also be tempted to feel forsaken. You are not. Immanuel-- God With Us, is always with us, is always for us, and will never, ever, forsake us. Although we may feel caught in the promises of the now and the not yet, choose to trust them: throw down your anxiety, your hurts, your finances, your loved one’s illness at his feet and trust the Waymaker and Promise Keeper to take care of it for you.
This Christmas, bring your questions and disappointments honestly to God. The One who promised never to leave you will meet you right in the middle of your uncertainty and doubt. Where are you feeling “caught in the waiting?” What promise of God do you need to cling to this Christmas? How might you bring your questions and disappointments honestly before Him?
How can you live out your everyday faith in the middle of what you’re facing today?
For prayer or encouragement, connect with Kate Dodd, Director of Care, at Kate@centerchurch.live.
