God is always with us to save us

By Msgr. John Wynand Katende

Posted on: Saturday, 11th October 2025

"From a Distance, God is watching us. 

This song by American singer-songwriter Julie Gold, is very popular, and actually, happens to be one of my favorites. Its lyrics and movement and are very inspiring. It is meant to be a song of hope for humanity. Yet, the chorus, that God is watching us from a distance, tends to be rather misleading, especially from a Christian prospective. Some critics refer to it as the song with awful theology. 

Distance refers to a point far away. In such a situation, one might feel less connected, less trusting, less intimate, and even lonely at times. Would God really, be that impersonal and detached from the affairs of this world?

Indeed, there are many religious systems in the world that start from the premise that God is far away from you. God either remains high above and far away, or if the worshipper says the right prayers, performs the right rituals, pays the right amount of money, or does the right required works, then he might be able to come closer to God.

The Jewish people believed that God was far above them in the heavens, and that to come closer to him, you had to obey his law as scrupulously as you could. God wants us to know and understand Him; it’s why He reveals Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, through His Holy Spirit through the Scriptures, and through creation.  

The Bible tells us of a God who is very close to every one of us, delighting in those moments in which we acknowledge his presence and open our lives up to his love. In fact, God is very close to us, especially in our darkest moments. In love for us, God came into this world through his Son Jesus Christ, to be with us and, actually, in us. Jesus became one with humanity, not only in the experience of life, and also in the experience of death, with and for us.If you will accept him, he is as close to you as your heart.

The nearness of God is made especially clear in the way in which we are saved. We live in a society riddled with conflicts, wars, starvation, poverty, etc. We begin to doubt in the creative, provident and saving nature of God. God constantly watches over us because He is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (present in all places at once.). 

God is not bound by a need for sleep like we are. Psalm 121:3 promises, “The One who watches over you will not slumber.” So, we can live in the certainty that our all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present God is constantly watching over our lives.

Psalm 121:8 expresses, “The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” This doesn’t mean that we will always be fine or without hurdles. But when we encounter difficulties, we can know that God goes before and behind us. He hems us in and offers refuge and respite when needed.

Sometimes, before God saves us from affliction, He enters into those circumstances with us. Jesus teaches us to call God “Our Father” and “Our Friend”. When it seems God is not hearing or answering our prayers, we can wait actively and patiently, knowing He is faithful. He has not stepped away but is closely watching over us. 

Romans 8:34 assures us that Jesus is at this moment in Heaven interceding for us. This means He goes before God on our behalf and prays for us. And His prayers are powerful because He knows exactly what we need and the heart of God! e came down to earth to save us. He entered in human form into our circumstances and struggles. He is well acquainted with our conditions. 

Although the song under scrutiny bears some theological error, it still carries a very good and encouraging message. It is meant to instill in us the God’s promise that He is always watching over us. It invites us to be trustful of His providence and salvation. Yet His watching goes far beyond mere observation. God does not stand back simply witnessing the events of our lives. Instead, He enters into our circumstances. He is actively watching over and protecting us.

When we’re unsure of the way ahead or overwhelmed by the world around us, we can rest in God, who constantly watches over us, guards our ways, hears and answers our prayers, and enters into our hardships while interceding for us. Such belief accords relevance to the Christian greeting:” The Lord be with you”.