“God is watching us from a distance.” So claimed the 1993 song “From a Distance” sung most prominently by Bette Middler in her grammy-winning version. But is God really watching us from a distance. He promises in his Word to be with us always. In Jesus he becomes Emmanuel, which means, “God With Us.” Why is God’s promised presence so important to us? And what does this promise say about our need to be present with the poor, the hungry, and the suffering of our world?