I am sitting on the deck enjoying the warm sunshine on this unusually warm day in North Carolina and reflecting on the season of Christmas. As I ponder the events around Jesus’ birth, I am in awe of God’s love for us. 
Can you imagine what it would have been like to sit in silence for four hundred years, waiting on a new message from God. Waiting to hear God’s words through one of His messengers? During this time of waiting life was not easy for the people of God. They had been invaded and eventually came under Roman rule. They longed to be set free of their oppression and for the promised land to once again be their own. 

Though God was silent, He heard them. He heard beyond their words to the deepest need within their hearts. Their need for the promised Messiah. Their need for their Savior. 

Can you envision the moment God sent His angels to declare the news to the shepherds? God broke through the darkness, lit up the sky and declared the Savior has been born in Bethlehem. Emmanuel!  God with us! He is here! 
In that moment, they realized God had not forgotten them. He had heard their cries! He had kept His promise to send the long-awaited Savior! 

It wasn’t how they expected Him to arrive. They were the least likely to hear the news first according to the cultural norms of their day. Yet, God had a plan for those shepherds to share the news of Jesus’ arrival to other communities along their route. 

After hearing the news the angels shared, they quickly made their way to Bethlehem to find Jesus. What an amazing moment for Mary and Joseph as the shepherds recounted all they had just seen and heard! It was a reminder to them that though the circumstances may have seemed imperfect for Jesus’ birth, He was with them! As the shepherds looked upon Jesus for the first time, I can just imagine the awe they must have felt. Their Savior had been born! The one they had waited for so long had finally arrived! Emmanuel is here! Emmanuel! God is with us! 

As the Christmas season comes to a close and we settle back into work, school, and activities with kids, let the wonder of Emmanuel- God with us- stay  at the forefront of your thoughts. There will be days where it may feel like God is silent in your circumstances, but remember, He sees you. He hears you. He will break through the silence of your day with expressions of His love for you. So often, it’s when we least expect it. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Katrina Dorroh & The Faith & Family Box Team