NorthStar Community Daily Devotional

Having a Heart in a Sometimes Heartless World

Day 178 – God with me

Scripture focus: ...”and they will call him Immanuel” – which means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23 NIV

Yesterday was one of those days when I felt very lonely. I forgot that although lots of yucky things might be happening around me, God was still with me. Fortunately, I didn’t let that keep me from my evening quiet time. Opening up the scriptures, I came across three little words in Romans 8:26 that allowed me to sleep in peace – God “helps our infirmities”.

Infirmity is an interesting word. Some translate it as: weaknesses or crippling. Literally, it means “to take hold of on the other side” – a verb. But according to Seamands (Healing for Damaged Emotions), this word might better be translated as the work of the Holy Spirit, who becomes our helper, our team mate, who willingly works alongside us in a mutual effort of healing.

Scripture teaches us that the Holy Spirit acts as a counselor, corrector, and even a champion revealer of truth. It’s awesome news that we have a team at our disposal to help us with our weaknesses. In that same section of scripture, Paul reminds us that we often don’t know how to pray. And if he hadn’t immediately followed that statement up with an example of how the Holy Spirit moves in and “helps our infirmities” – the fact that I don’t know how to pray seems like one more reason to feel ashamed.

But Paul intends comfort in his message of hope.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities – For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV

All of us are people in the process of teaming up with the Holy Spirit for the sake of healing. Along the way, it is nice when others support and encourage our efforts. But people inevitably disappoint – remember, we are all in process. And sometimes our messiness bumps up against another’s messy ways. I’d like to think that I could learn how to behave well on both good and bad days. My life would certainly be easier if others would learn how to live like this too! But if this is what we’re hoping for – our hope may be in vain.

God with us…a high priest who is able to feel our infirmities AND judges not.

This is by far a better place to confidently run when we’re in need of healing. It’s awesome when we form small communities of fellow sojourners to work on all this messy stuff together – and we must continue our community-dwelling experiences. But on the day when we’ve annoyed our community, or our community has annoyed us with errant shopping carts and other aggravating behaviors – it’s good to know where to turn before we turn in for the night.

Recommended reading: 2 Kings 8 and 9 in the morning; Psalm 143 in the evening