December 1, 2025 - Unto Us a Child is Born

Unto Us a Child is Born 

By: Rebecca Pruett

Monday, December 1, 2025

My fifteen year old daughter was telling me a story about another student in her class who is being raised by her grandparents, who are in their late 50s. The student told my daughter how “old” they were, and my daughter looked at her in shock since her own parents are in their early 50s! And that made me stop and think back to when my own children were born.

I had actually given up hope that I would ever have children. I was in my mid-30s and unmarried; it seemed unlikely that I would ever have children. And as much as I longed for children, God did not seem to be making a way for me.

I was missing out on all the child-like wonder of the world. I longed to cuddle a small baby, take a walk with a toddler, discover the excitement of learning to read with a 5 year old, teach a ten year old how to cook, teach a fifteen year old how to drive, watch an adult child get married, and cuddle my first grandchild. I wondered who would look out for me when I became older. Would I sit alone, wishing for someone to visit me?

And then something surprising happened. God showed me a wonderful man, who had been nearby all along. We married and I was content with where I was and who I was sharing a life with.

And then (I know this is not surprising to anyone but me), we discovered I was pregnant! And all those dreams I had hoped for with a new baby all began to come true! I cuddled a sweet little baby, and then a second. I took (short) walks with toddlers. We discovered the excitement of putting letters together to make words and words together to make stories. We started school. We learned to cook together. And now we are learning to drive.

God granted the deepest desire of my heart, not in my time, but in His time. And His timing was perfect!

God didn’t just do this for me. He granted the deepest desire of His people’s hearts. He  did this for Israel and in so doing, also blessed the entire world! Isaiah 9:2 says, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”

I really did feel like I was in darkness. The hope I had for a husband and children did not seem very close. And for the Israelites, hope did not seem very close either.

But then Isaiah 9:3 says, “You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.” And I really did rejoice! My children really are my harvest! (Ok, don’t tell my children that they are the spoil! They might decide to take advantage of me!)

And then Isaiah 9:6 points this out:

“For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

    and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace

    there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

    to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

    from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

Did you notice that last line? “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” “Zeal” is another way to say “eager, enthusiastic interest”. I love my children and when I am not totally exhausted, I certainly have “zeal” and “enthusiastic interest” in them. But this is NOTHING compared to the enthusiastic interest God has for us. His zeal and enthusiastic interest resulted in Him sending His own Son as a baby to us - His Son who is our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father, our Prince of Peace!

One of my favorite expressions of this shows up in Handel’s Messiah. Talk about zeal! This excitement shows up in echoing lines in the soprano, alto, tenor, and bass lines along with the underlying orchestra parts! Make sure you play this at full volume!!!  

Lord, thank You for Your amazing gift – the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace! Thank you for loving us so much that You planned this before the foundation of the earth. Hundreds of years in advance, You put all the pieces in place – pieces we had no idea would fit together and they did! They fit together just like You planned and You prepared the way for Your perfect salvation for us! Thank you for your gift, Your Son, who came to earth as a baby, experienced the world the way we did, was the sacrifice for our sins, and then rose again. Help us to remember and appreciate the Gift You have given us and point us to You in this season. In Jesus’ precious Name, Amen.