Immanuel

As I was laying in bed this morning, trying not to wake my husband, my heart became suddenly very heavy. It was very heavy for friends who are battling the husband's Stage IV cancer. They're both so weary from fighting the good fight. The husband wants so much to be well and serve the Lord. His wife is doing everything she can to find her husband the help he needs. Both are exhausted through and through and neither is willing to give up. They both so badly need Jesus to lift this yoke from off their shoulders and carry their burdens for them; to heal them.

My heart was heavy for a daughter who has wounds so deep inside that no one seems able to touch them. Wounds that are not physical, but are still there nonetheless and are killing her. Wounds that only Jesus can touch and heal.

My heart was heavy for a mother-in-law fighting for her own life, who has health issues that are causing physical wounds that will not heal. The doctors say there is nothing more that they can do and that she will die. She, too, needs a miracle from God.

My heart was heavy for a world that is crying out. A world that is lost and dying and doesn't know which way to turn. A world that turns their back on Jesus because they believe the notion of God is "ridiculous".

All of them (all of us) need Jesus. Immanuel. God with us. God in the room with us. God right beside us. God in us. God to touch us. God to comfort us. God to guide us. God to heal us. God to love us. Life.