The Wonder of His Presence

A Week Focused on Awe, Stillness, and Beholding Emmanuel

There are seasons when life feels loud—full of movement, expectations, responsibilities, and constant noise. Yet in the middle of it all, God extends a quiet invitation:

“Come and unto me.”

This week, we lean into The Wonder of His Presence—a space where awe is restored, stillness is embraced, and hearts learn again what it means to dwell with Emmanuel, God with us.

Rediscovering Awe

Awe is often lost not because God is no longer wonderful, but because our pace no longer allows us to notice Him.

Awe grows when we pause long enough to remember:

• God is holy

• God is near

• God is active

• God is with us

  
  

When we behold Jesus—not rushing past Him, not multitasking through moments of worship, then our hearts soften. Wonder returns. Reverence awakens. Worship deepens.

“For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us…” — Isaiah 9:6

The Power of Stillness

Stillness is not inactivity—it is attentiveness.

In stillness, we stop striving. In stillness, we stop performing. In stillness, we stop filling the silence with noise.

And in that quiet place, God speaks.

Stillness allows us to sense His nearness, recognize His peace, and remember that He is not far away. He is not distant. He is not disengaged.

He is Emmanuel.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us.)- Matthew 1:23

Beholding Emmanuel

The miracle of Christmas and the beauty of our faith is not simply that Jesus came.

It is that He stayed.

He stepped into humanity. He walked among us. He understands our weakness. He sits with us in our waiting. He meets us in our ordinary moments.

To behold Emmanuel is to recognize God’s presence not just in sacred spaces, but in everyday life:

• in quiet prayers

• in whispered gratitude

• in moments of uncertainty

• in seasons of waiting

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” — John 1:14

Wonder in the Waiting

Waiting does not mean God is absent.

Often, waiting is where His presence becomes most personal.

Mary waited. The shepherds waited. Israel waited.

And in the waiting, God was still working.

This week invites us to worship in the waiting—not rushing God, not forcing outcomes, but trusting that Emmanuel is present even when answers feel delayed.

A Moment of Reflection

Take time this week to gently reflect:

• Where have I been rushing past God’s presence?

• What distractions are stealing my stillness?

• When was the last time I truly paused to behold Him?

• How can I create space for awe again?

Write your reflections. Sit with Him. Let wonder lead you back to worship.

A Prayer of Awe & Stillness

Lord, Slow my heart. Quiet my spirit. Restore my awe for who You are. Help me to behold You—not just in moments of worship, but in every part of my life. Thank You for being Emmanuel—God with me, here and now. Amen.

Closing Encouragement

The wonder of His presence is not something we chase but it is something we receive.

When we slow down, lift our eyes, and open our hearts, we discover what has been true all along:

God is here. God is near. God is with us.

May this week be filled with stillness, sacred awe, and fresh encounters with Emmanuel.

With grace and love,

Yvonne Perry

The Bible Bloom