God With Us

I woke up in the middle of the night last night with these words burning in my brain. When it became clear that sleep was no longer going to be a thing, I got up and wrote them down. We've all been here, this misery of our own making. Maybe it'll speak to one of you.

Emmanuel - God With Us

He is with you,
There.
In that misery of your own making.

He will not yell over the noise.
He will not interrupt.
He will likely not intervene.
As you create yet more misery.
But He is there.

Listen closely.
His words will be quiet.

He will speak Love,
When all around there is hate.
He will speak Hope,
When all around there is condemnation.
He will speak Peace into chaos.
He will speak Truth into lies.
He will speak Healing into addiction.
He will speak Forgiveness,
Even as He is mocked.

You may not hear Him there.
He will not shout,
He will not force,
He will not beg,
He will not manipulate,
For He is Love.

But He has made a way out for you.

In the whisper of the wind through trees,
In the lapping of the water against shore,
In the crackle of a fire,
In the dark of sleepless nights,
In the brightness of a sunrise,
In the midst of wordless prayers,
At the Table - Bread and Wine, Body and Blood.

When you stop,
When you sit in silence,
When you are still,
There. You can hear Him.

Stop.
Turn.
Listen.
Be silent.
Hear.

God With Us - Emmanuel