God’s Love Language: Physical Touch

God loves us with his love languages. This is the last one -- physical touch. Those whose primary love language is physical touch often speak of “feeling the presence,” or the touch, of God. Evidence that God speaks to us through the love language of physical touch is seen in both the Old and New Testament. Genesis 32 records the account of Jacob wrestling with God—a stranger perceived to be a messenger of God. Moses encountered God in a way that affected his body. Scripture says, Moses “was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD” (Ex. 34:29).

An eyewitness tells of a young child who fell off a chair in a restaurant. Clearly hurt, the little girl began crying. Her father never got up to help. He seemed more worried about other people watching. He made a comment to her that she should have watched what she was doing. He never hugged or comforted her. By withholding touch and compassion no doubt, he made her little soul-hole a bit bigger.

In the New Testament we see Jesus often use the language of physical touch. “Laying his hands on each one, he [Jesus] healed them” (Luke 4:40). “He touched her hand and the fever left her…” (Matt. 8:15). “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man” (Matt. 8:3).

Why didn’t Jesus speak a word or heal the whole crowd in one prayer? Because touch is one of our most basic needs. As early as the seventh week of pregnancy a baby reacts to touch. Studies show that people develop very slowly and even die if they are denied touch. Conversely, if a person is touched in a bad way it can traumatize their soul.

Touch is the earliest sense to develop and the last one to leave at the end of life. Our body and mind craves touch. It’s the way God created us. The Greeks believed touch to be the most basic and most reliable of the senses. Touch tranquilizes the nervous system by increasing endorphins.

Scripture says, “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them…” (Mark 10:13). Children who are touched and exposed to hugs are often very expressive and warm, while those who aren’t hugged very much or shown affection by their family typically grow up putting a wall between themselves and other people. They often seek intimacy elsewhere—in the wrong places.

Hug often. It is a gesture of affirmation and approval. For example, a child who is hugged often feels worthy and valuable, whereas a child who is hug-starved or doesn’t receive any other form of affirmation will start asking, “Am I loved?” Hugging fosters self-acceptance and also boosts our immune system.

Many who followed Jesus got to touch him. Can you imagine being touched by the Son of God! Think about this: each person Jesus touched, he created (John 1:3; Psalm 139:13). When he looked into each set of eyes, he saw their very soul. He had shaped each mind intricately and differently. He sculpted each face and every feature perfectly. Long before their birth he knew them individually, cell by cell. The Bible says, “You [God] saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!” (Psalm 139:16, TLB)

There is something wonderful about having some else wash or brush your hair, or give you pedicure or a massage. Jesus washed his disciple’s feet (john 13:1-4). No doubt they felt refreshed and restored. When you have faced a difficult time, what helped you most? A hug, an arm around your shoulder, a hand laid delicately on top of yours? Whatever gesture, no doubt, it was authentic and meant so much. This unnamed woman in Matthew 9/Mark 5 sought Jesus’s touch: “A woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him [Jesus] and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed," and she was (Matt. 9:20-21).

Followers of Jesus Christ have for centuries been serving and touching others in his name. They have been spiritually touched by him. Saul of Tarsus certainly was and changed forever (read Acts 9:4-9).The book of Acts is the history of what God did through those early believers as they continued the serving, touching and healing ministry of Jesus.

Have you ever felt “touched” by God? When? what did it feel like?