Emmanuel

But Zion [Jerusalem, her people as seen in captivity] said, The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me. [And the Lord answered] Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands; [O Zion] your walls are continually before Me. (Isaiah 49:14-16 AMP)

Christmas Day! The day we celebrate the birth of our Lord. The day The Word became flesh. I have been pondering this thought for a while now and the wonder of it all still baffles me! To consider that the Creator chose to take on fragile human form and make His home here in our “habitat” shows a love so huge it’s immeasurable! And yet for some of us, this Love doesn’t feel close at this time of year. Instead, it can feel like God is so very far away.

As I have listened as the news and media have been bombarded with the details of the tragedy in Newtown, CT, I realized that many families may be feeling the same way this year. At a time that should be filled with joy, there is weeping and devastation and loss. It can be so easy to conclude that the Christmas story is just that – a story. A tale we tell to our children of something that happened long ago. It isn’t relevant to today, even if it is true.

I can remember my first Christmas after the death of my mother feeling that way. I felt so very alone. So forgotten. Yet it was in that dark place that God chose to reveal Himself. I was reminded of the lyrics to a song based on Isaiah 49:14-16. I had never read this passage before hearing this song, but it has become one of my favorites and I cannot count the times that the words and melody of the song have found their way into my thoughts during moments of complete despair. It’s as if the Holy Spirit whispered them gently to my heart and revived hope. I want to share this song with you.

The Palm of My Hands (Isaiah 49.14-16)
© Jamie Soles February 1996

Does it seem to you that I do not care
That I have so many hats to wear
That My time is precious and you don’t dare to impose
Does it seem to you I have turned away
And have cast your case behind Me
And have left you there in the desert bare
With no thought of you that is kindly

Does it seem to you
That I have forsaken you
That I have forgotten you
Does it seem to you?

Can a woman forget the son she has borne
Will she not have compassion on her very own?
Though she might forget I will not forget
Look upon Me; see these wounds
You are inscribed upon the palm of My hands
I will never forget

Can a woman forget the son she has borne
Will she not have compassion on her very own?
Though she might forget I will not forget
Look upon Me; see these wounds
You are inscribed upon the palm of My hands
I will never forget
I will never forget

When I heard of the shooting in Newtown, this song came unbidden to my mind as I began to pray for the families affected and it made me stop and consider the words again. This time the words struck a different chord in my heart. Being a parent now, I have come to understand what God was saying in this passage better. There are times when my son can be so demanding of my time and energy, yet not once have I considered not attending to his needs. My love for him is the driving force that keeps me going in the face of sleepless nights and sickness and frustration. I could not forget him if I tried. So, God is with us! We are continually on His mind and His heart, whether we are aware of it or not!

Rereading this passage in light of the Christmas story, I came to realize something beautiful.

Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel–which, when translated, means, God with us. (Matthew 1:23 AMP)

Emmanuel. God IS with us. Not WAS with us. That is what He wants us to remember. He has not forgotten us – He can’t! We are indelibly imprinted on His hands. In this moment He longs for us to remember. He sent His Son to us, to live with us, to suffer with us, to rejoice with us. To share every intimate moment of our lives with us. It’s time we remember. The Christmas story isn’t past tense! It’s time that we realize that God’s Christmas PRESENT to us IS present every day of the year. So the question is not, is He here. The question is whether or not we will choose to allow His Presence to permeate our lives. He will make Himself known. He will restore us. He will comfort our hearts and calm our troubled minds. This truly is the best gift we could receive!
Be blessed and may Jesus be Present for you today. Merry Christmas!