"God is Near"

For those of you feeling lonely on this Christmas, I want to remind you that God left his heavenly dwelling to live a rejected life. And the Bible says that He sympathizes with our weaknesses, and He knows what it's like to not have people around him. When Jesus was on the cross, everyone left. He was fully alone. He was despising the shame on his shoulders…and that shame was your shame and that was mine.

So if you feel shame or a heaviness about this past year, this Christmas, I want you to let it off your shoulders. You don't have to carry it because He already carried it.

If you're nervous about this next year financially, I want you to know that we serve a God who was born into poverty. He was born into a manger. He lived a life where he didn't have two cents to rub together.

If you feel like you don't have a hope and a future this year, I want you to know that God ultimately received His glory when He endured the suffering that was on the cross. He does His best work in the wilderness with you as well.

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

My friend, you got a lot of hope to be had this Christmas. I know this might be a tough season for you, but I just want you to run to your Father today because He knows everything you're going through and He wants to be with you in it. Always remember, I love you and more importantly, God loves you.

Merry Christmas & Many Blessings!

THE VIEWS OF SUBMITTED EDITORIALS MAY NOT BE THE EXPRESS VIEWS OF THE ALABAMA GAZETTE.