The First Nowell:

“On a cold Winter’s Night that was so deep”

Written by vERITY bEARDS-jONES

The Christmas Story shows God coming to Earth humbly, quietly, and softly. Emmanuel, God With Us.

Jesus’ birth ‘on a cold winter’s night that was so deep’ reminds us that in our difficulty, as well as our joy, God is present. Emmanuel, God With Us. Even when our hearts are hardened; even when the night seems dark, deep and cold, the Father of Light surrounds us. Emmanuel, God With Us. And just as Jesus came to Earth that night, so He comes to us in our times of darkness. Emmanuel, God With Us.

The festive season can be a wonderfully happy time of comfort and joy with loved ones; but for some, it can be very difficult. The Christmas Story is full of divine Love and Joy and Hope – so for some, when love, joy and hope feel distant, we feel isolated from the festivities; and God’s prevailing Love, Joy and Hope can feel so far away. In the season celebrating God’s presence coming to Earth, we can end up feeling further from God than ever.

But Jesus is Emmanuel, God With Us: He comes to us in the darkness. So, when the night feels cold and deep, we don’t need to pull ourselves from Him. We don’t need to hide; in fact we can’t ever hide from Him (Psalm 139:7-12). He is the same faithful God who sees us in full and still loves us in our vulnerability: He won’t abandon us, in fact His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). He is sufficient and capable, even when it seems to us that there is no way out of the darkness we face. Praise be to God that, with Jesus by our side, we do not need to fear darkness.

‘“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call on me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honour him.

With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91:14-16