Immanuel

Matthew 1:18-23 NLT
Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, being a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace her publicly. 20 As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. 22 All of this happened to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet: 23 "Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us)."

Isn’t that just like our God? Who could have imagined the Savior of the world would come to us as a fragile infant, born to just a girl, from just a small town. The Son of God, entrusted to this young couple, starting out their lives together.

And isn’t that just like man? So unaware of the miracle growing in his midst.

“Joseph, being a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace her publicly.” Tuck her away in secret and protect the pristine reputation that means so much in this life. Good intention. And I think this is a common reaction when God moves onto the scene and invades our well-ordered, planned out lives with the supernatural wonder of His own plans.

And yes, how by His grace He does invade our world! We could never guess how it would play out. We could never guess how the Lord would answer our prayers. “Lord, I want to know You more.” “Lord, use me.” “Lord, help me. Change my heart.” He hears those prayers and moves in ways we cannot understand to bring us to the place of surrender where that miracle occurs and we are being conformed to the image of His glorious Son. It is in these moments of advent, these unexpected, supernatural birthings that we are confronted with a terrible truth…things are not going according to our plan! We are in over our heads.

A pregnant fiancé was a definite problem for Joseph. He couldn’t see how God was right in the middle of it all, preparing deliverance and inconceivable blessing. I don’t know what you are facing today, but I know God works all things together for the good of those who love Him. Sometimes it’s hard, like Joseph, to see our trial is actually pregnant with amazing grace. Does that minimize the pain? Of course not. But it does give us hope. Hope that we don’t suffer in vain, and hope that in the end, God will use this for His glory. Hope that, yes, He does hear when we cry out to Him, and He does come when we call. He does invade, permeate, and surround. We are not alone; God is in this thing with us. Immanuel, always.