Emmanuel in my “Already and Not Yet” this Christmas

As God’s people waited for Messiah after Malachi’s prophecies, they heard no new words from God…for about 400 years. They thought God’s blessing would come after they’d restored the temple, but it didn’t come for many generations. 

Had He abandoned them into darkness? Were their prayers falling on deaf ears? 

They needed to hold tight to His Word, waiting for His promises to come true.

Are you waiting too?

Wondering if God will ever answer your prayers?

Through tears, are you wondering if He’s even there? 

We desperately cling to His Word already given to us, just as Malachi urged God’s people to do in the wait.

We are waiting, aren’t we?

Some of God’s prophecies and promises have ALREADY come true…and some haven’t…YET!

Emmanuel in our “already and not yet”

So, our cry of waiting today is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” It’s the same as those in Malachi’s days and in the early church. This ancient hymn has survived through millennia of church history! As we suffer and wait, let’s walk together in the “already and not yet” promises of this special season, shaped by Scripture and this song’s prayer.

This month, let’s center our hearts on Jesus Christ, in the “already and not yet” truths of the Gospel, finding praise for what He’s done already and hope in what He will yet do, one glorious day. Let’s cling to the Word of God together, as we wait and walk by faith in today’s suffering.

You already came, Emmanuel

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Is. 7:14 ESV).

O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

(“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” 12^th c., trans. J. M. Neal, 1851)

The Lord kept His promise, already.

Emmanuel, “God with us” and the Son of God, broke into our perceived time and space in His first advent, beginning a long historical season of redemption as He saves His people from their sins. We’re in that season now.

So Jesus is now “with us” as we suffer in this fallen world of sin, currently living in exile from our true home with Him. Into our suffering, Jesus promises:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

Emmanuel, teach me, as I wait for Your return

Our faithful and trustworthy Lord always keeps His promises, even if it takes many centuries. Even if His answer wildly contrasts with our expectations. God’s infinite timing and wisdom are completely different than what our tiny human minds can understand.

O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, 

according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, 

in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will, 

according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, 

to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth (Eph. 1: 7-10 ESV). 

Waiting for the “not yet”

We’re waiting for the “not yet,” that glorious new day when the Lord will unite all things in Jesus Christ. We’re waiting for His promises to be fulfilled, through His perfectly timed plan of restoring everything in the new heaven and earth.

How we want it…right now!

But, maybe our suffering urges a new craving for His wisdom, shown to us in His Word. How can we wait well? As we wait for His “not yet” answers, God promises we’re “already” living with our Emmanuel during His wise, grace-filled purpose for our life on earth.

Somehow, even our current suffering is part of it all.

Emmanuel, help me to rejoice with hope

On every day of our lonely and hard suffering on earth, how is our Emmanuel coming to us and teaching us? He tells us: 

the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 111:10 ESV).

Maybe, as we celebrate Jesus’ first coming and all that it means for our “already,” this can be a special time to know Him more and more. Maybe He’ll give us newly reverent fear, awe, and worship during this advent season.

Maybe He’ll help us to rejoice with deep hope in His profound plan for His “not yet” answers, in this month’s waiting time, suffering time.

Sister in Christ, I’m creating playlists for this advent and Christmas season, to focus our hearts on the “already and not yet” promises found in Jesus Christ. On the hardest days, we need His hope as we wait, don’t we?

If you’d like to sing Christmas songs that offer Gospel-centered hope in Christ as we suffer, sign up here and I’d love to send them to you! Let’s look to our Emmanuel with rejoicing in His hope this year, even as we suffer and wait. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!”

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