Adversity in our lives can grow us desperate for a touch from God. In moments of certainty that the ground is breaking apart under us and will swallow us whole, we cannot take another breath, let alone another step, without some assurance He is with us.

A health crisis. We had not received a “save the date”. No pre-released schedule of events marked the path before us. It snuck up behind us and knocked the wind out of our lungs as if we had fallen from a great height landing flat on our backs. I found myself, in the wee hours of the morning, with electronic beeps displaying constant information with their bright lights eerily illuminating an otherwise dark room, too cool air blowing over us, squirming to find a soft place on a hard, plastic recliner, positioned parallel to his hospital bed, yet separated by table and wires. 

Unreleased emotions started to bubble up as the startling reality of our situation worked its way through the protective barrier I’d built in an attempt to be supportive and strong. Battling silent fears thought by thought; clinging to scriptural truths; and flashing lightening prayers filled with deep emotion all draining the “inner strength” reserves dangerously low. “Are you here, Lord? I need a touch from You.”

The air mattress under him shifts and I realize he’s also awake, lying still, yet, wrestling in the darkness. I look over at him, unable to hide the tears already spilling over. We make eye contact. Reaching out his hand across the difficult darkness he waits while my hand stretches to meet his. At his gentle touch, warmth and love travel up my arm and straight into my hurting heart. Weak smiles pass between us along with a silent but strong message: “I love you. We’re together. We’ve got this.”

That moment reveals a reflection of God bridging the darkness in our most anguish-filled times. As we turn our eyes to His face, He reaches out His hand across the uncertainty and fear and murky unknown and at His gentle touch, His warmth and love travel into our deepest places and fill us with awareness of His presence and hope and strength. “I love you. I am with you. I’ve got this.”

The touch of God emanates power and healing. The scripture spotlights story after story of Jesus reaching out and touching someone to bring healing and life. He radiated such power the crowds clamored to touch even the hem of His robe. And when they did, they were healed.  (Mark 6:56)

This power of God’s touch is available to us. We don’t have to hunt Him down on dusty roads or across rough seas, hoping we can get His attention or near enough to brush against Him. His Spirit is within us! If we will turn to Him, fixing our spiritual eyes on Him, we will receive His powerful touch. We will experience His peace that passes understanding despite the enemy we face and the precarious path we walk. We find reservoirs of strength and resolve filled to the brim that stood dry moments before. He will both keep our lamps burning and bring His light into our circumstance, pushing the darkness away. (Psalm 18:28)

Hear God’s powerful whisper to you in your hard: “I love you. I am with you. I’ve got this. If you feel alone it is because you have looked away from Me, not because I have moved. I am here. Always. Not one millisecond of time passes that I am not with you. (Matthew 28:20) I share every experience. I know every trembling thought that shakes you to the core. I see the silent tears that soak your pillow. I hear the inner groaning of your hidden pain. I feel the ache in your heart. Turn to Me. Fix your eyes on Me (Hebrews 12:2). Trust Me. My peace is yours. My strength is yours. In Me is hope for all seasons and all circumstances. I’ve got you.”

Photo by Daniel Weiss on Unsplash