God with us . . . It’s a phrase of comfort and hope.  A promise that even if we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, God is there.  He is at our right hand. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

YET

I think I have sometimes made it somewhat LESS than what it truly is.  God with us as friend and confidante? Yes. God with us as a Father who holds us close and grieves with us? Yes.

The comfort of His presence? Sure. All are divine truths to marvel and wonder over, to encourage and uphold us—and they do.

YET

God with us in the Lion’s Den also means the lions’ mouths stay shut.

God with us in the Fiery Furnace also means the flames do not touch us.

God with us in the prison cell also means walls can crumble and doors can be opened while guards sleep.

God with us in the desert night means divine revelation of the heavenly realm.

God with us in the wilderness means provision from heaven that brings health, sustenance and satisfaction.

God with us as we are under attack means seas part and enemies are vanquished.

God with us in the garden means we have strength to stay silent in persecution and lay our lives down to death.

Still YET . . .

We don’t always (ever?) get to choose what “God with us” looks like in our circumstances. For some saints, God with us meant the lions’ mouths did stay open, but God gave those saints divine peace with hearts to love and forgive. For some, the fire did burn, but God promises their blood will be avenged—every wrong made right.

What I don’t want to do is make the promise of “God with us and God in us” into a simple phrase of comfort. Rather, it is an empowerment, a protection, a promise that God Himself will fight for us, sustain us, strengthen us, free us, rescue us, heal us, deliver us, reveal His heart to us and show His glory through us.

Let’s not sell it short. “God with us” brings a dynamic of heaven crashing into the limitations of earth and all of a sudden the impossible is made possible.

We can love the unlovable and see the dead raised. The cross made the way for God to dwell in us.  The veil is torn. Let’s not make that less than what it is.

“For, greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.”

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.  And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”

 

 

 

Rebekah Loveland Klave is the grown  daughter of Howard and Carolyn Loveland and was taught about Jesus from a very young age.