Column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Listen carefully, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call his name Immanuel (God with us).” Isaiah 7:14 (Amplified Bible)

I keep a notebook in my prayer closet that is precious to me. In it, I write prayer requests for various friends and relatives. I find it an honor to touch heaven on behalf of these dear brothers and sisters: a relative facing incredible stress while caring for a loved one, a friend who will soon say goodbye to her beloved foster children, friends who lost loved ones this year. The list includes some valleys I have crossed before and others whose painful reality I cannot possibly fathom.

As I thought about the many trials these people face this Holiday season; my heart filled with gratitude for things that we often take for granted: good health, a strong marriage, a roof over my head, children who love God, and the fact that, regardless of what is under the tree, we are all together this Christmas.

While praying about these situations, Isaiah’s words came to my mind. At that moment, I realized that each one of these families had one thing in common beyond their shared crisis this Christmas:

What unites them all is their shared faith in the baby in the manger as their Lord and Savior.

They know Immanuel—”God with them.” He is there even when they may not feel his presence amid their pain. This is a truth I hold dear, as one of his most repeated promises throughout Scriptures is, “I’ll never leave you, nor forsake you.”

That’s the Immanuel promise, a beacon of hope in the darkest of times.

Gift of Immanuel

When Isaiah prophesied the coming Messiah about 700 years before Jesus’ birth, God inspired him with a name that would bear the answer – the only breath of fresh air during life’s hottest trials. It is the promise that the baby would become the bridge that would cross the chasm between us and God, the father. It is the assurance to all who put their faith in him that his enduring presence offers what our fleeting circumstances threaten to steal: Enduring peace—unfathomable joy.

“And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow, Look now! for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing. Oh, rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing!”

Glad And Golden Hours

These words by American Minister and author Edmund Sears lead the way in my new favorite advent book, “Glad and Golden Hours – companion for advent and Christmastide” by Lanier Ivester.

Whether your heart is full of happiness or sorrow this Christmas season, the book is a beautiful companion for Advent and beyond. It invites the reader to celebrate and meditate, or, as Ivester writes, “feast and rest,” all within the circle of the season.

Although the book showcases over 70 recipes, crafts, and beautiful ideas for hosting, its greatest asset is its six-week journey, which invites the reader to bring every joy and sorrow into the Christmas season.

Although Ivester loves hospitality and the Christmas festivities, she has experienced great sorrow and loss that promised to steal her peace and joy during the holidays. But her journey with Immanuel—the enduring presence of God in his son—has turned even her darkest hours “glad and golden” during Advent.

Christmas and Pain… Christmas and Loss… Christmas and hopelessness. It’s an impossible equation! And yet, it is so real to so many of you today.

But I would like to invite you to meditate upon this truth today and share it with those you love who are going through a crisis this Christmas Season:

The baby in the manger, the resurrected Lord Immanuel, will walk you through the valley. Again. His hands will never slip away. His ironclad grip will never let you go.

To fully experience the Immanuel Promise, whether you deem your hours dark or golden today. That’s my Christmas wish for you.

The baby in the manger, the resurrected Lord Immanuel, will walk you through the valley. Again. His hands will never slip away. His ironclad grip will never let you go. #Christmas #GladAndGoldenHours #GodSizedStories Share on X