I’m feeling more than a little nervous waiting in line with these strange skis stuck to my boots and a large mountain looming in front of me. My little inexperienced 7 year-old self looks incredulously at the chair-lift. It whips around a fast moving, long metal pole with a circular frisbee shaped seat that you have to quickly grab and put in between your legs, then lean back into just enough to let it pull you up the slope. It requires a delicate balancing act I have yet to master. And it will take me MANY tries. Even when I manage to take off rather well, half-way up the slope there might be a little bump and then I lose balance and fall off, feeling frustrated and embarrassed as all of the other skiers smoothly parade on by.
But I wasn’t alone in that line - and that was the reason why I didn’t give up. Every scary trip I took up that chair lift my dad was running up the hill beside me. When I would fall he would pick me up and help me ski back down and try again. His constant presence and encouragement all the way up the chair-lift helped me to eventually develop the skill to do it on my own - much to his relief I’m sure - and our yearly ski trips became one of the highlights of my childhood.
One of the most important aspects of a father is their loving presence. Much like my dad calling out encouragement while running uphill, our Heavenly Father doesn’t leave us to face mountains on our own. You see God did not want us to be insecure in His love. So He came as a physical being - one that we could touch, talk to, listen to and walk alongside.
Isaiah announced that the child whose birth we celebrate at Christmastime is to be called the Everlasting Father. Jesus Christ was the physical manifestation of our Fathers unflinching love and devotion - and PRESENCE. God is WITH us. We are not fatherless.
Jesus explained to his disciples so many times that he and the Father are one. The Father is in him, and he is in the Father. Anyone who has seen him has seen the Father. So when Isaiah tells us that he is to be called Everlasting Father - this is to be a source of deep abiding security and peace.
What he is saying is that we will be eternally looked after by the One who is committed to our everlasting care. His protection and provision for us will never run out. Christ is founding a new people for himself, and He is our head - our caring provider - for all of time.
This is nothing short of life changing for those of us who have been adopted through Christ. We are now heirs in God’s own family - blessed because of the inheritance Christ has secured for us. We are loved beyond measure and our greatest blessing is in knowing that we are no longer orphans, alone and struggling to be self-sufficient. We are His daughters.
Sisters, may you know this child in the manger in a deeper way this season - as your Everlasting Father. He came to run alongside you in whatever challenge you face and to grow you into the amazing daughter He created you to be. He is your source of love, protection and provision, who blesses you with a rich inheritance and who will never change his mind about you - you are His forever.
“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11)
-Kelly Joyce (member of our Crown of Beauty International Community, see her blog at www.triumphantly.net )