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Jeanne Takenaka
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Emmanuel: When It's Hard to Remember God is With Us - Jeanne Takenaka

    A hand holding a candle with bright light, symbolic of Jesus being the light of the world and being with us.
    Emmanuel: When It's Hard to Remember God is With Us 11

    @JeanneTakenaka

    Emmanuel. God is with us.

    I have heard this name of Jesus for most of my life. And I’ve taken its meaning for granted.
    God.

    With.

    Us.

    Have you ever stopped—really stopped—to consider these three little words? Nine letters that speak such hope.

    We walk through our days—through this Christmas season—with sometimes burdened shoulders. Some of us are dealing with the loss of loved ones. Life-changing diagnoses. Income loss. Devastating changes. All of us are dealing with the impact of a certain pandemic.

    Small hands holding an angel ornament
    Emmanuel: When It's Hard to Remember God is With Us 12

    And in this season where there seems to be an unwritten rule that everyone “be happy!”, sometimes we feel so very alone.

    But . . . Emmanuel.

    God is with us. He’s with us in each moment.

    If we are His kids, we are never truly alone.

    This is what became a candle burning bright in my heart: God is with me. He’s with you in every hard thing we’re walking through.

    He doesn’t promise to remove the pain. But He assures us He is with us in the midst of it.

    A nativity scene outside a hospital reminding us that God came to be with us in the form of a baby
    Emmanuel: When It's Hard to Remember God is With Us 13

    God our Father offered the gift of His Son to a broken world. 

    God.

    With.

    Us.

    He’s promised to never leave or forsake or abandon us.

    God with us . . . He’s promised to never leave or forsake or abandon us. #tellhisstory #godwithus Click To Tweet

    Even when the pain feels like too much, 

    the disappointment overwhelms, 

    the hurts consume, 

    He is with us. 

    The Comfort in Knowing God Is With Us

    In this season, I find hope in those three little words. 

    He is with us. Always. Forever.

    A creamy cross ornament hanging on a Christmas tree, a reminder of the gift of redemption that Jesus gave as Emmanuel
    Emmanuel: When It's Hard to Remember God is With Us 14

    We may feel alone because no one experiences our world exactly as we do, but God knows. He walks with us through each circumstance. Our Father gives us what we need so that maybe, just maybe, though we aren’t happy in our situation, we can know His peace.

    We may feel alone because no one experiences our world exactly as we do, but God knows. He walks with us through each circumstance #tellhisstory #godwithus Click To Tweet

    When we just can’t muster a smile or a happy countenance for the Christmas season, that’s okay. God is with us. He knows our pain. He wants us to remember He is with us in it all. Maybe our joy comes in the quiet knowing that we are known and loved. And maybe that’s enough for this season.

    For those of you who are in a great place right now, remember God is with you . . . loving you and holding you.

    A meme that says, "Maybe our joy comes in the quiet knowing that we are known and loved. And maybe that's enough for this season." on a backdrop of a candle with a dancing flame.
    Emmanuel: When It's Hard to Remember God is With Us 15

    And for those of you who have had a hard, broken kind of year, God is with you . . . ready to comfort and hold you in this season when we remember . . . 

    God is with us.

    What about you? What helps you keep your eyes on Jesus during the Christmas season? Where have you seen God’s presence in your life?

    A Couple More Notes

    I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas with a little gift. This photo is probably my favorite one from the past few weeks. I hope it offers a bit of rest and a reminder that you are greatly loved by our Father. You can download the photo by clicking here. 

    For the next few weeks, I will be taking a blogging break to spend time with my family. My prayer for each of you is that you find joy in each moment, that special memories are made, and especially that you experience God’s love for you in a personal way. I’ll see you back here on January 4th!

    This week, I’m linking up with Grace and Truth and #Instaencouragements. Come join and read more encouraging posts!

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