Gary Chapman wrote a groundbreaking book a few years ago called The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts.  For the past few weeks I’ve been writing about how God speaks to us through these love languages, which include the following:

1. Words of affirmation
2. Touch
3. Quality time
4. Gifts
5. Acts of service

Click here if you missed Part 1 (God Speaks Our Love Language), or Part 2 (God’s Words of Affirmation).

This week I want to think about how God loves us through the language of touch. There is something about physical touch that penetrates deeply. An arm around the shoulder. A warm embrace. A kiss. A loving touch bypasses a lot of our defense mechanisms and goes straight to our heart, doesn’t it?

Can God reach our hearts through the love language of touch?

God is with us all the time, but He is not physically present, so He is unable to touch us in a way another human being might. So how can God speak to us through the love language of touch?

Here are some ways that we can experience God’s loving touch:

1. Nature—God created everything, and He is everywhere. So it makes sense that He reaches out to us through nature to let us know he loves us. He might do this with a warm breeze. A wave lapping at our feet. Fuzzy chicks. The feel of a horse beneath us as we ride. A dog or cat snuggled by our side. All these are expressions of God’s love to us.
2. His spirit—Sometimes we can feel the touch of God through his spirit reaching out to our spirit in a special way. Many people have described this over the years. A warm sensation. A gentle nudge. An overwhelming sense of peace.
3. Other people—Probably the most obvious way God touches us is through other people. The hug of a friend, when we feel lonely, or are going through a hard time. A welcoming handshake, when we feel uncertain in a new situation. A reassuring pat on the back, when we feel like we’ve messed up.

How have you felt God’s loving touch in your life? Please share with us!