It was a quiet day, and He came like He did every day.
He never knocked. He knew the door was open, but these days, it was only cracked… So, He cautiously peered in before opening the door all the way.
She was too out of touch to see Him. But every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, He was there.
Had anyone else walked in, they may have commented on the unassuming man sitting on the opposite end of the sofa where she sat.
But no words were exchanged. Utter silence filled the room.
She sat with her eyes glazed over. Unable to communicate her unspeakable pain. If tears came, they were a gift… it would likely provide relief from the pain she felt inside.
Weeks passed, and still, He showed up. Rarely acknowledging His presence, she often wondered why He was even there. Didn’t He know she couldn’t give Him anything? She didn’t have anything left.
Weeks turned into months, and months turned into a year. Finally, she made herself look up. She saw flowers. Immediately, she gave the man a quizzical look.
He nodded as if to say, “Yes, I’ve brought flowers every week.”
A tear slipped out of her eye and rolled gently down her cheek.
She’d known this man longer than most people in her life, and at several points throughout her life, He had been the only one she could turn to and more important than any other person…
But in the turmoil and heartaches in the recent years, she’d become despondent. She had so many questions. Why didn’t He fix the problem she asked Him to? Why didn’t He show up when she begged Him? Why didn’t He answer her like He had in the past? Why didn’t He hold her like He had in other situations? And why on earth didn’t He protect her from all the heartache?
These questions spun mercilessly in her head like a merry-go-round. But every week, He showed up, and He sat.
He sat in the room with her questions. He sat in the room with her hurt. He sat in the room with her grief. He sat in the room with her despondency. He sat in the room with her depression. He sat in the room with her anger….
Like so, He sat in the room with her purpose. He sat in the room with her calling. He sat in the room with her laughter. He sat in the room with her love. He sat in the room in her good times…
He sits during the ups and downs. He may not answer all the questions, but He’s not leaving… And until she’s ready to speak… Patiently and lovingly, He sits…
… And they shall call Him Immanuel…which translated means, “God with us.” — Matthew 1:23
Read “He is Here” poem from What Does the Christian Walk Look Like When…
