Believing the Promise of Immanuel by Becky Harling
http://65583.stablerack.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&view=post&articleid=Believing-the-Promise-of-Immanuel-by-Becky-Harling-&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
By Becky Harling
My house is decorated. The tree is up, and the lights are hung. Oh, how I love this season! However, it's easy to forget that the season of Advent is about waiting well for Immanuel. Seasons of waiting can feel lonely. They raise questions in our hearts about whether or not God is really listening to our prayers. As I've been thinking about waiting, I've been studying Luke 1. I'm intrigued by the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary in their season of waiting. Each could have felt lonely for many reasons, but in their waiting, God led them to one another.
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My house is decorated. The tree is up, and the lights are hung. Oh, how I love this season! However, it’s easy to forget that the season of Advent is about waiting well for Immanuel. Seasons of waiting can feel lonely. They raise questions in our hearts about whether or not God is really listening to our prayers.
As I’ve been thinking about waiting, I’ve been studying Luke 1. I’m intrigued by the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary in their season of waiting. Each could have felt lonely for many reasons, but in their waiting, God led them to one another.
Elizabeth had wrestled with infertility for years. She was older and beyond childbearing years. One day, when her husband—who was a priest—was making a sacrifice in the temple, the Lord sent the angel Gabriel to tell him that his prayers had been heard and his wife would conceive. Zachariah was filled with doubts and challenged Gabriel, asking for a sign. As a result, Gabriel told him he would not be able to speak until the child, John the Baptist, was born. But as the angel promised, Elizabeth did conceive (Luke 1:1–25). She remained in seclusion for five months but demonstrated her faith by declaring, “The Lord has done this for me” (Luke 1:25).
Six months later, Gabriel visited a young teen virgin, Mary, stating, “The Lord is with you.” (I love those words! Why not circle them in your Bible?) Startled by his presence, Mary wondered about his greeting. Gabriel went on to tell her that she was going to conceive and give birth to the Son of the Most High. Mary asked how this would happen since she was still a virgin. Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and His power would cause her to conceive. Then he encouraged her further by telling her that her relative Elizabeth was already pregnant in her old age, because “No word from God will ever fail” (Luke 1:26–37).
Both of these women would have heard many times about the promise of Immanuel—prophesied by Isaiah nearly 800 years earlier (Isaiah 7:14). They just didn’t know the integral part they would play in God’s story.
When Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s house, Elizabeth blessed her in a loud voice, saying, “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45). I love those words! I’ve been meditating on them all morning.
What does it look like in your life to believe the promise of Immanuel?
It means trusting that God is with you—whatever season you are in. He is with you, for you, and constantly pursuing you. He promises His presence, His peace, and His provision for your life. This Advent season, remind yourself daily of His presence, His peace, and His provision. Too often, we get caught up in a million details, and we forget that Immanuel’s promise is for us today.
Becky Harling
http://65583.stablerack.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=3-Gifts-to-Give-Your-Friends-by-Becky-Harling-&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Steve and I have been in Costa Rica for the last week, relaxing and praying into 2026 and what the Lord has for us. Early this morning, I received an encouraging text message from one of my friends. It felt like a wink from God, confirming one area of my calling. As I've been thinking about my dear friend who sent the text, I've also been thinking about the different gifts we might give our friends. Beyond physical gifts—although those are wonderful—there are other gifts that encourage the soul. They offer a sort of life-support system. They refresh and revive the weary soul.
http://65583.stablerack.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=Calming-Anxiety-in-An-Uncertain-World-by-Becky-Harling-&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Have you ever felt unsure about which decision to make? Or perhaps you feel fearful that the decisions you have made weren't the best. You play out the options in your mind, but you feel paralyzed—stuck and unable to move forward. Maybe you've lain in bed at night, concerned about the future. You've played over scenarios in your mind, trying to come up with the perfect solution. Uncertainty is all around us. Although we live in an information-overloaded culture, we're not benefiting. It seems that though there's more advice than ever, we're more uncertain than ever. Instead, we're growing in weariness and overwhelm.
http://65583.stablerack.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=5-Questions-to-Ask-Before-You-Enter-2026-by-Becky-Harling-&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
The week before New Year's Day is a holy week for me personally. I have developed practices over the years to position my heart in the right place before I enter a new chapter of life. Just as I want to give thoughtful attention to closing a chapter well and opening the next one effectively when I'm writing, I also want to do the same in my life journey. One of the practices I have developed is to read through the book of Isaiah. As I read, I listen for God's invitations to me personally. Isaiah is such a great book because it encompasses the entire gospel and God's desires for us as His people.
