When You Wonder: Where’s God? – Margaret Feinberg

When You Wonder: Where’s God?
By Margaret Feinberg

For a moment, imagine yourself a tweenaged girl. 

Your pulse races. Pupils dilate. Skin turns clammy and sweaty. You gasp to catch your breath. Every hair stands on prickly end. 

A mighty angel glows before you. He says you’re favored, and tells you the Lord is with you, with you, with you. 

Those words echo deep in your soul along with the wonder of the moment. This is the first of many wonders and joys that will come to you. But it’s those first words to which you must cling. 

He is with you, with you, with you. 

He is with you when your son disappears for days to teach in the temple. 

He is with you when you ask for wine at a wedding and receive a gruff response. 

He is with you when you watch your son ridiculed and run out of town. 

He is with you when weep at the feet of his shredded body. 

He is with you, with you, with you.

In Immanuel, the words of the angel reach the farthest outposts of humanity. 

He is with you, with you, with you. 

No matter where you are in life, in relationships, in work, in this holiday season, rest assured, He is with you, with you, with you. And that’s reason to celebrate. 

Adapted from Celebrate Wonder and Joy: 25 Devotions for Christmas and Advent

Margaret Feinberg is host of the popular The Joycast podcast and author of Taste and See: Discovering God Among Butchers, Bakers, and Fresh Food Makers. You can follow her on Instagram at @mafeinberg.