All is Well? by Donna Avant

The first time I heard the song, All is Well, written by Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kilpatrick, I sat down and wept.    All was not well in my life that year.  I do not remember all the details. I only recall feelings of deep sadness and loneliness that washed over me along with a peaceful hope.

The lyrics declare, “Born is now Emmanuel; Born is our Lord and Savior”  Three unique names with three unique meanings:

Emmanuel: God is with us

Lord:  Master/Owner

Savior:  Deliverer

All was not well in Joseph's life.  In Matthew 1:23, an angel quoted Isaiah 7:7 and encouraged Joseph to take Mary as his wife despite knowing the child she carried was not his own.  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” Loneliness and sadness must have been close companions to Joseph. His entire life had been thrown off course due to Mary’s pregnancy.  Joseph would have to make a decision.  Matthew 1:24 tells us that Joseph woke up and “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.” Joseph believed that God would be with Him.  Jesus would be Joseph's Emmanuel.

All was not well in Mary’s life.  Mary, a young teen-age girl, was simply going about her day, when Gabriel, an angel, appeared to her and announced she would be the mother of the Son of God.  Mary’s response in Luke 1:38 challenges us all:  “Behold I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”   In one statement she accepted the biggest assignment of her life along with the greatest disruption to her life as she had planned it.  Mary proclaimed not just with her words but with her life that Jesus would be her Master, her Owner.

All was not well in Israel.  Israel was ruled by Herod the Great, however, he answered to Rome.  Herod was a murderer.  He killed his wife’s brother, members of the Sanhedrin, one of his mother-in-laws, one of his wives and two of his sons.  Herod also enforced heavy Roman taxes on the Jews.  Poverty and economic hopelessness reigned.  In Luke 2 an army of angels appeared to the shepherds, one of the most common occupations as well as one of the lowliest of jobs.  An angel told the shepherds,  “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  A Savior and Deliverer from hopelessness was born that day in Israel.  

After leaving their fields, and most likely their sheep, the shepherds went to find their Savior.  After finding Him they chose to proclaim Him (Luke 2:17).   One cannot embrace Jesus as Savior and not Lord.  Nor can one declare Jesus as Lord and Savior without proclaiming Him to others.   

All might not be well in your heart or in your world this Christmas.  Allow Him to be your Emmanuel.  Know He is with you through every painful, gut wrenching circumstance in your life.  Choose Him as your Lord. Then go proclaim Him as your Savior, believing He will deliver you.

All is well. Jesus our Emmanuel, our Lord and Savior is born!

Merry Christmas!