IMMANUEL ~ The Gift of WITH - Advent Day 7

COMFORT

When we ponder the joy of Christmas, we focus on Light and Life. But part of the beauty of what Life gives us, is not minimizing death, but validating its devastation. In this life when we face the death of a loved one, a dream, a relationship, or a plan we can feel devastated. Death is meant to rub us wrong, and the appropriate response is grief. Every death is a loss, and every loss calls for lament. 

Part of the gift that Jesus offers, being our very Life, is solidarity - comfort and support when we face the weight of sorrow that comes with any kind of death. Because God is Life and the source of all good, He is willing to be with us in our deepest sorrow, our most difficult loss, and our most intense pain. He is identified as “The God of all comfort” and He promises to come into those places and be with us (2 Corinthians 1:3). 

Take a moment and notice where you have felt the pain of death, name the loss that your soul is facing. Just let be what is, take stock of how this pain impacts you. As you sit with this, let Immanuel come to you in that place and be your comfort. Let Him be with you. Listen to the words He wants to say your heart - let His love be present in your pain. 

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” Psalm 34:18