The Gift We Didn't Expect: A Child Who Changes Everything
Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 6 December 2025
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Welcome to Day 6.
If you were given the task of saving the world, how would you do it? I imagine most of us would think big. We would probably assemble a team of the smartest experts, gather a massive budget, or perhaps build a powerful army to enforce peace. We naturally think that big problems require big, loud solutions.
But God, in His infinite wisdom, does something completely different. He sends a baby.
Today’s verse is one of the majestic peaks of the Old Testament. It starts with such simplicity: "For to us a child is born." It sounds so normal. Children are born every day. It is a common, fragile, human event. Yet, in the very same breath, Isaiah tells us that the government will be on his shoulders. The weight of the world, the administration of the cosmos, rests on the tiny shoulders of this infant.
This is the glorious paradox of Advent. God becomes small so that He can be with us.
Look at the titles Isaiah gives Him. He is the Wonderful Counsellor. He isn't a distant boss giving orders; He is a guide who understands us perfectly and offers wisdom for our confusion.
He is the Mighty God. This baby in the straw is the same power that flung the stars into space. He has the strength to fight the battles we cannot win.
He is the Everlasting Father. This one might seem confusing since Jesus is the Son, but it speaks to His character. He treats us with the protective, tender care of a perfect father. He is the head of the family we are all invited to join.
And finally, He is the Prince of Peace. He doesn't just bring a temporary cease-fire. He brings shalom—a deep, wholeness of spirit that puts our broken pieces back together.
Notice that the verse says this child is born "to us." He is a gift. You do not earn a gift; you simply receive it. Whether you feel worthy today or not, this child is given to you. He is given to carry the weight you are tired of carrying.
I love the line about the government being on his shoulders. So often, we try to carry the government of our own lives. We try to control everything, worrying about the future and stressing over every detail. This verse invites us to resign from the job of being "General Manager of the Universe." We can take the weight off our own shoulders and place it on His. He is strong enough to carry it.
So today, as you think about the baby in the manger, remember who He really is. He is the King who came to serve. He is the Mighty God who came to be held. He is your Counsellor, your Father, and your Peace.
Prayer of the Day:
Lord Jesus, thank You that You came to us as a child. It is hard for us to comprehend that You, the Mighty God, would become so vulnerable for our sake. Thank You that the government is on Your shoulders, so it does not have to be on ours. We hand over our worries and our need for control to You today. Be our Prince of Peace in the midst of a busy season. Amen.