We have all likely walked through Christmas seasons where we felt like the presence of God was anywhere but nearby. Even with all the captivating warmth of the season hovering around us and the charm of twinkling lights dancing on adorned homes, we can find ourselves gasping for a breath of hope and even a speck of light to keep us moving forward. In the Christian tradition, we call this season “Advent,” which means “coming,” as the people of God gather to celebrate the humble arrival of our Savior, Christ the Lord. 

This season is set aside with purpose: to pause and acknowledge with wonderment the truth that the God who created heaven and earth chose to come and dwell with us. As we sit with that reality, we hold this contrast that the darkest part of the year invites us into the brightest moments of joy, love, faith and hope! The timing of this is no mistake or coincidence, as this is exactly what Jesus does for us: injecting light and love into our darkest moments of despair. 

If you find yourself with a sense that God is out of reach, Advent reminds us that a great light has dawned into our darkness, and His name is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Isaiah 9:6 speaks to four other names given to our Savior from the Father, including “wonderful counselor.” Jesus is our helper, one who will never leave you or forsake you. Our helper won’t always keep us from facing problems but will faithfully give us the fortitude needed to walk through them. 

He is also called our “mighty God.” This wonderful counselor is the mighty God who reigns high above all the details of our lives and whose sovereign hand works miraculously to lead us onto the right paths. He can be trusted. 

The third name ascribed to the Lord is “everlasting Father.” He is a good Father who will never leave you, and who will never withhold His love from His children. 

Lastly, He is called “Prince of Peace” because He alone holds the authority to speak peace and restoration in the places of our lives that hold chaos and disruption. 

During Advent, we hold an invitation to remember that Jesus did not come into a world already full of hope and peace, but He came to bring the hope and peace that this dark and desperate world needed most. The God of the universe put on flesh and stepped into our darkness, to show us that He is near the brokenhearted and that He alone holds the hope our spirit longs for most this Christmas. My prayer for you in this season is that you would pause and posture your spirit in worship, turning your eyes to our great light, the hope of the world: Immanuel.

Dig Deeper

Immanuel is the God who chose to dwell with us and it’s why we celebrate Advent. How would you look at life differently if you were convinced that God was with you, in all the details of your life? Reflect on Psalm 23, God as our all-knowing, ever-present shepherd. 

Daily Readings

Scripture illustration by Frieda Ruh | This article was originally titled “Immanuel, Immanuel” in the December 2024 issue of Peer.