If Only...

If only I could trust past the fear and pain and get a glimpse of what God has in mind. Out of all the painfulness, He says He will cause a good thing, a new thing to be born. Isaiah 66:9 (Personalized)

The phrase, “If only” is used to “express a wish, especially regret, or as another way to say, even if for no other reason than.” - Dictionary.com

What a beautiful study of the five love languages, conceptualized by Dr. Gary Chapman, this has been.  We’ve been delving into these love languages as expressed by God. Have you taken the test to identify if your love language is Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time or today’s focus, Physical Touch?

Touch can be such a touchy subject. Many dos and don’ts. Written and unwritten rules and social constraints. It could be done in innocence or perversion. Touch is simply defined as “to come into or be in contact with.”

Physical touch as a love language describes individuals who feel most loved and connected through physical affection, such as hugs, holding hands, or cuddling. It’s about expressing and receiving love through physical closeness.’ – AI Overview.

The power of God’s touch is revolutionary and literally life changing. From the very existence of man, God has been touching the lives of those whom He would send His Son to save. There are many instances where Jesus touched persons in the Bible and brought them healing and restoration. These include the leper in Mark 1:41-42, the blind in Matthew 9:29, Peter’s mother-in-law in Matthew 8:15, and countless others. As John exclaims, the world could not contain all that Jesus did in His ministry here on earth! (John 21:25)

In Luke 8:43-48, we find the story of the woman with the issue of blood. Practically an outcast due to the cultural structure of that time, she was invisible. It was through an ‘if only’ that led to a ‘touch’ in faith, that transformed her life. Matthew 9:21 records her as saying, “if I only touch His robe I’ll be healed.” Luke 6:19,   CEB says, “the whole crowd wanted to touch Him, because power was going out from Him and He was healing everyone.”

Like Jesus, we are to transform the lives of those in our communities. We have been given a call to ACT. Will we answer the call?

I love how Jesus answered the troubled minds of the disciples when He appeared to them after His resurrection in Luke 24:39. “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

Does Jesus still touch us now? Though He is absent from us, I believe with God all things are possible! We have the power of His Presence through the Holy Spirit, Our Comforter. He invites us to shift from regret and godly sorrow to restoration and the joy found in salvation. 

I know there is coming a time where He cannot wait to reunite with us, when “God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes...” Revelation 21:4; where He will rejoice over us with singing, Zephaniah 3:17; and where the crown He will give us is waiting for us. 2 Timothy 4:8

Let’s move from past to present to future, touched by God in faith and trust.

“I cannot change the past, but I can allow the “if only” to serve as a reminder to love my life with more care – with more thoughtfulness – be more conscious of those around me and take hold of opportunities that arise in my life.” - Lois Astwood

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You Lord that we can move from if only to faith in action. From wishing to walking in answered prayer. Thank You for being faithful and true, even when we fail you time and time again. As You touch our lives, so help us also to touch the lives of others. To act; to be a community transformed; to transform the communities around us. In Jesus name, Amen.

“Through the touch of divine love, all sorrows dissipate.” – Unknown

“Yet You, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, You are the Potter; we are all the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64:8, NIV

“One touch from God is all it takes to turn any situation around.” - Unknown

Be blessed to be a blessing.

K.I.M (Kingdom Inspired Messages)

Author of K.I.M