It was a bitterly cold day. There were no available handicap parking spaces. My husband James temporarily parked the van at the drop off zone and helped me out carefully. I told him to go ahead to find parking. I then pushed my walker and slowly walked into the open courtyard that connected to the clinic entrance.
Sustained by God's Word in the Wind
I zipped up my hooded coat and covered my head. I felt a bit warmer, but my vision was only a few steps ahead. I took each step carefully, trying not to fall. The wind was strong, and I had to stop several times to adjust my hood. How I wished James was there with me.
Suddenly, a familiar verse in the Bible came to mind: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)
I read this verse soon after becoming a Christian. At that time, I was still deeply troubled by the hit-and-run accident I had experienced on Highway 101 many years earlier. That accident left me with severe psychological trauma; I was always afraid of being hit by a drunk driver from behind, to the extent that I couldn't help but check my rearview mirror while driving. This verse let me know that God was with me and that He would protect and help me. So I made it a habit to pray with this verse as soon as I got in the car. One day, my fear of driving disappeared.
I began to silently recite this verse and walked toward the clinic in faith. God was with me; I was not alone, for God said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (See Hebrews 13:5)
Remembering the Suffering of the Lord Jesus on Earth
Although James could not park the car and walk with me at the same time, our Creator God the Father is not limited by time, space, or matter. But how can one come to know God? This is precisely why Jesus, the Word, became flesh and dwelt among us: "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known." (John 1:18)
The Apostle John wrote: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us." (1 John 1:1-2)
When Jesus lived on earth, He also experienced temptations, challenges and sufferings, but He knew, “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father (God) is with me." (John 16:32)
The Good News that God is with Us
In the United States, about one-third of adults report feeling lonely, and one-quarter report a lack of social and emotional support. With Christmas approaching, my friend, do you know the meaning of Christmas and the two names of Jesus?
"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him." (1 John 4:9)
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.... All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel (which means “God with us”)." (Matthew 1:21-23)
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