Cecil Clements' Podcast
Cecil Clements' Podcast
ADVENT JOURNEY 2025 (Exploring the Character Traits of the Messiah) -- EPISODE 14
Emmanuel — God With Us.
Not distant. Not silent. Not absent.
This Advent, discover the nearness of Jesus in every moment of your life.
For comments, feedback or prayer requests please write to me at cihclements@gmail.com
The Messiah: Emmanuel
Scripture: Matthew 1:23 (NASB)
“…‘Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us.’”
Today we pause to reflect on one of the most intimate and comforting truths of Advent: God with us. Emmanuel is not just a name we sing about at Christmas—it is the heart of the gospel itself. In a world where loneliness and distance are deeply felt, this promise speaks hope straight into our lives.
Emmanuel is not merely a title—it is a miracle.
God did not send help from a distance.
He did not shout instructions from heaven.
He came Himself.
In Jesus, God stepped fully into our world. He entered our stories, our struggles, our brokenness, and our humanity. He knows what it is to be tired, misunderstood, tempted, and wounded. There is no part of our human experience that He has not touched.
God with us—in moments of joy and seasons of sorrow.
God with us—in temptation, in weakness, and in waiting.
God with us—in the quiet moments we don’t know how to name, and in the confusing moments we don’t know how to face.
And this is the beauty of Emmanuel:
He is not with us only on holy days or joyful occasions.
He is with us in hospital rooms and kitchens, in waiting rooms and living rooms,
in long nights when sleep will not come, and in ordinary mornings when the day feels heavy before it even begins.
He is with us in whispered prayers and unanswered questions,
in moments of courage and moments of fear,
in celebrations we share and burdens we carry alone.
He is with us when faith feels strong,
and He is with us when faith feels fragile.
He does not come and go.
He remains.
He is with us always—
not as a distant observer,
but as a present Savior,
walking beside us, holding us, never leaving us.
Advent reminds us that we are never alone. The nearness of Jesus is not something we have to earn or achieve—it is a gift. And it is the greatest gift of all.