We are leavers. Serial leavers.
We leave jobs and churches. We leave homes and neighborhoods. Sometimes we leave children and spouses.
We are blessed with the means to leave most of the time. With cars that start or bank accounts that allow employment switches. We are fortunate to have running shoes to lace up to run out the door when an argument gets too thick to work through.
We leave friends behind. We leave homeless people on the side of the road. We leave someone alone when we know they need human comfort.
We leave when things feel uncomfortable or when we see the promise of something better somewhere else. When it gets too deep or too painful, we skip out.
Most of all we leave to protect our hearts. It isn’t necessarily right but it’s true.
Christ did not leave us. Instead He came.
His body would be bruised and broken for us, but He came. His heart would be shredded by the heartache in the world and instead of preserving himself, He preserved us. His life would be stolen, but even so He arrived.
He arrived. And did not leave.
Even when He “left” He didn’t. He would always be with us, He promised. He would give us Someone else to care for us.
He did not leave as we are prone to do. And even as His own humanity was prone to do.
Jesus arrived because of His supreme love for each one of us.
God WITH us. He is here. He is still here.
Maybe the next time we are tempted to leave or to walk away from the discomfort, we are inspired to stay because of the beautiful arrival of God to earth so long ago.
Is it hard to stay? Do you find comfort in the fact that Christ came? What does “God WITH us” mean to you?
By Sarah Markley who is trying to sense God WITH her this month.
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
thank you. this came at a much needed time. thank you.
thank you ana =)
I like this post.
We are leavers, but He comes. Sinners, but He forgives.
What a great thought to carry with me today.
God who has not left me, grow in my heart a love that does not comes in compassion to those around me.
that is beautiful Emily. Thank you!
i don’t really think of myself as a “leaver”, but i am not a very good finisher…i give up on things way too easily, and that includes relationships. in the end it has the same result as leaving though…so thank you for the reminder…i need to be more mindful of when i am gradually leaving or quitting something or someone, just because it’s hard…and i am taking the time right now to be grateful for a God who doesn’t leave us or give up on us!
Yes! He is the God who does not give up!
I have to agree with what Kerry said above. I’m not really a leaver – I’ve been married for 21 years, after all, and a lot of those years have been downright hard. But I tend to get fed up and just stop trying and yes, in the end that’s pretty much the same as leaving. Maybe worse. Sarah, your post reminds me that if He didn’t give up and leave me, after all I’ve done, I surely owe it to the important people in my life not to “leave” them, even if leaving isn’t the physical leaving but rather the building of walls around my heart.
that’s a good point chrissy thank you. =)
This is so true, and is a great example of His Love for us, that we should share in our lives. I find comfort and grace knowing Jesus Came for me and that God is With Me. Thank you for sharing this tender subject outloud. This has truly blessed me today.
Very comforting and reassuring words as those around us leave… hurt us… we can remember that He came and He is always with us. He will never leave or forsake us. I wish we could all remember that running from our “discomfort” usually doesn’t solve our problems… it just trades one set of problems for a whole new set and many times it destroys relationships and loved ones along the way.
so true Tara! thank you!
Thank you for writing these words. My husband and I are currently in the midst of transition and growing up in a military family I’m so familiar with leaving homes, churches, etc. I am far too comfortable with the leaving and need to reminder of how He never leaves us and is ALWAYS there! Beautifully said, Sarah!
thank you Beth!!
You had me at “serial leaver.” When the going gets tough, I want to jet. Sticking it out has never been my first reaction. But I love the comparison to how Christ CAME to us.
Beautiful words, Sarah! I’m going to think about these today.
thank you natalie. i think the serial leaving thing is human nature. you aren’t alone!!
Oh, so beautiful. I’ve been fighting wanting to leave a lot of things lately. This was very timely. Thank you!
i’m so glad jessica. thank you for commenting!
God with us …means for me a promise that I am never alone even when I feel I am, or think I am, or sense I am. God is near. I just have to look and see.
Thank you, Sarah! As many have already said: “your timing is perfect.” I am a leaver, a serial leaver, but have stayed for longer than I ever have over the past 15 years. This discussion came up last night as a dear Christian friend shared his heart with my husband and I. In part, it is what has cause our lack of God’s full blessings. He pointed out, as did you, God is WITH us and wanting to give us the outpouring of His Spirit and bless in a way we have never seen heretofore.
Thanks again and Merry Christmas,
~Debra
Immanuel — God With Us means that we don’t have to walk this journey with my son’s muscular dystrophy alone. It means that there is someone who suffered not only for our sins, but that he may understand our physical and emotional pain.
Thank you Sarah. Your words have touched me at a moment when I needed it most.