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Ron Writes

“As I travel through this pilgrim land there is a friend who walks with me…. Blessed Jesus hold my hand.” There’s nothing more reassuring than the “touch of the Master’s hand.” In the very first chapter of Mark he records that a leper came to Jesus. One of the most startling things happened. It says that “Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him” (Mk. 1:41). Jesus touched the untouchable. Was it necessary for his healing? No doubt, there was power in that touch. It left a result that was far greater than healing. It was a touch of acknowledgement, comfort, and connection. As Mark says, Jesus did it out of compassion. There was more needed than physical healing, this man needed the emotional reassurance that he mattered to God.

There is power in a touch!

A strange thing happened with my open-heart surgery. After five hours of surgery I went to Cardiac Intensive Care. As I began to wake from the anesthesia, I realized there was still a breathing tube in my throat which made me panic. I wasn’t thinking clearly, but one thing was clear, I was extremely agitated. Then another strange thing happened – one of the nurses took my hand and held it in hers. I calmed down immediately. It seemed like she held my hand for hours. Who does that? Someone who realizes that there is more needed than physical healing.  There is often a need for a human connection – the reassurance of a human touch.

There are many mentions of God’s hand in Scripture. Ezra said “I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me” (Ez. 7:28). Ezra recognized the unfailing love of God. The hand of God is an image of recognizing God’s blessing in our lives. Nehemiah realized that the response of the king was brought about by God. He said, “And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me: (Neh. 2:8). Ezekiel often stated that the “hand of God was 
upon me.” It’s a statement acknowledging the presence and goodness of God. The reassurance that God is connecting with us. “Hold to God’s unchanging hand.” There’s power in recognizing God’s goodness in our lives.