The gift of someone’s presence can be an amazing thing. I can think of two examples in my personal life where the gift of someone’s presence was life sustaining for me. From these two examples we can better understand the Christmas name of Jesus, Immanuel.

As a sophomore in high school, I was notified that my father was up for parole and could possibly be released within weeks. I was terrified. For a few years of my life, I had lived free from the fear and threats of his alcohol and drug-induced actions. The news of his possible release from prison was overwhelming. My best friend attended school and church with me, and she knew the violent history that had defined my young life. She sat with me on the front steps of the church, handed me tissues and held me as I cried through the fear and pain of my father’s possible parole. There were no words to “make it better,” but the very presence of someone who understood how I felt made life bearable. She gave me the greatest gift, her presence, and I survived that life crisis.

As a minister and conference speaker, I was scheduled to begin a women’s conference in north Alabama several years ago on a Friday afternoon. My sixth grandbaby decided to make her appearance on the Thursday before which was usually my travel day. With joy, I welcomed her into the family and realized the travel day would now be a travel night. It would be at least midnight before I made it to the hotel. The option to wait until the morning was not possible if I were to make the conference opening. I started the trip with an “I can do this attitude,” but as the journey progressed, I became exhausted emotionally and physically. In the darkness a thunderstorm had rolled in, and the rain and lightning added to my burden of driving. My brother was aware of the situation, and he called to check on me. He could tell I was struggling, and he said, “I’ll stay on the telephone with you until you get there so you won’t be alone.” For over an hour he was my virtual traveling companion. The gift of his presence kept me from being alone and from a possible accident. He gave me the greatest gift, his presence, and I survived the long trip to my destination.

In Matthew 1:22-24 KJV, we find the revelation of the name Immanuel/Emmanuel, “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him and took unto him his wife.”

In Isaiah 7:14 KJV, we find the prophetic announcement of Immanuel, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

When God considered the need of mankind, he saw not only a people who needed redemption from sin but a people who needed the presence of God in the flesh. Jesus’s advent, his coming into the world, his presence with us, is a loving key to understanding the Christmas story. After the birth of Jesus, mankind would never be alone during the crisis of life.

John 1: 1-5 and 10-14 KJV, puts it this way. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. and the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Immanuel, God with us, is the greatest gift you will receive this Christmas. It will sustain you during every life crisis. The darkness, the storms, the fear, the pain, the terror, the loneliness, the pressure to arrive at your destination, and the fatigue of life is all overcome because Jesus came as Immanuel to be with you. Open your heart to his unfailing love and his presence this Christmas. Jesus came so you would never have to walk alone!