It’s okay—the Lord was with us!

“Watch out,” my friend shouted, telling me in no uncertain terms to pull the car over. He had noticed that I had drifted toward oncoming traffic, warning me just in time to move back to the right lane. Our families were returning from a few days of vacation after Christmas. Unfortunately, I had not felt well for most of our time together, and on the drive home, I was still fighting some of the weariness that comes with illness. My wife had asked me to let my friend drive the car, but “macho” me felt well enough to do it myself.

Needless to say, I felt awful for putting the well-being of everybody in jeopardy, not to speak of the fact that I deeply embarrassed myself with my inappropriate insistence to drive. My friend drove the rest of the way home. After safely arriving at home, I felt I needed to “fess-up” and apologize to everyone, for endangering them. As I stumbled to find the right words, the impact of my friend’s surprising reply hit me squarely in the chest. He said:

“It’s okay—the Lord was with us.”

Not only was it very gracious and forgiving of him, but it emphasized the brilliant truth that as followers of Jesus we are living the “with-God-life.” While the assurance of God’s presence in our lives cannot be used as an excuse for dumb moves such as mine, the promise of the “with-God-life” is one of the greatest comforts we can enjoy. It is such an important truth, one we need to be reminded of again and again. Scripture is chock full of verses emphasizing it. Here is one:

“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun. (A term of endearment for Israel and all God’s people) He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor. The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.” (Deuteronomy 33:26-27a)

Of course, the name Immanuel, meaning “God is with us,” is the title given to the one and only Redeemer, Jesus. He is the personified truth that God is with us. If you know him already, let this truth encourage you today. If you do not have a personal relationship with him, invite him in. Not only will you receive forgiveness of sins, he is and will always be there when you are lonely. You are in fellowship with the One who promised to never leave you alone.