Experiencing God’s Touch

Is experiencing God’s touch a part of your life each day? As Christians we talk a lot about our “personal relationship with God,” but when was the last time it was…well, personal?

A vivid Biblical account of what experiencing God’s touch looks like is the story of the woman suffering from a chronic bleeding issue. In her culture, her condition was a dream killer because it barred her from mingling in society. That meant few friends, limited industry, and no chance of marriage. It labeled her an outcast, “unclean,” her life a disappointment to herself, her family and friends.

For twelve hope-deferred years she had been trapped in a fishbowl of fear and frustration until her hope was as barren as her bank account.

But then came Jesus. And desperation driven by a growing conviction He was her answer plunged her into the throng surging around the Messiah. 

Pressing through the crowd, heart pounding, eyes locked on Jesus, she crept up behind him and stretched out her hand, If I can just touch him… and boom! Her courageous faith paid off when she touched His robe and “felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.” (Mark 5:29)

Hallelujah! Right? We could end here with an inspiring story rich with lessons and application, and we would do well.

But that wasn’t the end of it. 

Jesus called her out. He led her beyond the truth she understood (Jesus is the Messiah who can heal) to make eye contact with the source of that truth, Jesus Himself. (Jesus is my Messiah and He can heal me.)

The healing Jesus provided touched more than her body, it transformed her life.

Can you hear the tenderness in Jesus’ voice as he connects with her? “Take heart daughter…go in peace…”

Sometimes I wonder if we miss God’s tender touch because we focus on “truth” without interacting with the Author of it?

We miss God's tender touch because we focus on “truth” without interacting with the Author of it. Click To Tweet

We read our Bible and pray striving for godly lives that reflect Biblical principles. We connect with a local church and serve. Good stuff and a solid prescription for every Christian, but when we rely on this formula we can miss the best part!

It’s like building a house: We lay a foundation of truth based on faith in Christ, raise sturdy walls of sound doctrine, furnish it with godly disciplines, godly peers, and pursuits. Then we carefully tend it through regular study and prayer.  

But it isn’t until we hit the power switch that it comes alive.

Although Biblical truth will take us far, connecting with Jesus Himself is the gateway to experiencing His touch for today’s need.

Like you and me, the woman in the story believed the right things about Jesus and acted on them in faith. However, it wasn’t until she made eye contact with Him that she received what she needed most: a personal connection that touched the core of her suffering.

The same is true for us.

Our faith will ignite when we “touch the hem of His robe” through prayer and He turns and makes “eye contact” through His Word. That’s when He ministers healing that transforms the heart of today’s trial.

And that is His call to you and me today. To make our “personal relationship with Jesus” personal by connecting with the Source of the truth we love.

How about you? What helps you connect with God?

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Extra Resources for Help:

“How To Have Intimacy with God” by Jon Bloom (Desiring God)

Feature photo courtesy of Melissa Askew