Bumping Into God

There are certain things I hear that sticks with me through the years. This is one I heard over a decade ago and it still resonates.

How many times have you confused bumping into God with a touch from God?

There are moments when God bumps into us when we aren’t reaching for Him. A loved one may say something that hits us in a good way and we change our outlook, perspective, or attitude. That could be a bump from God.

Or what if you are going about your day, oblivious to God, and then a traffic jam stops you. It causes you to slow down and hear something from God. That could be a bump.

Or what if you are running full force with good intentions, but you’ve left God behind. Life may stop on a dime by a circumstance causing you to bump into God to not make an upcoming mistake.

These events, accidents, divine appointments could be a bump from God.

To remind us, to center us, to focus us.

But I’m not talking about this type of bump.

I’m asking, are you content with these moments, these bumps, to be the only touches from God you have?

Because if you are, you’re confusing a mere tap with a tender touch.

Think about your relationships. Would you rather have your shoulder brush past your spouse in the hallway or a tender moment?

Would you rather bump into your kid in the kitchen at the refrigerator or a loving hug?

Would you rather have your cat step over you to get to his favorite spot in the window or him resting his head on you?

Would you rather feel God move past you or actually experience His presence?

I think we unconsciously confuse bumps into God with touches. We experience that moment that we can not deny, but we stop there. We don’t press any further. We don’t beg for me. We settle for a bump, when He’s willing to give us His touch.

Are you settling?

Are you settling for daily verses where God can speak to you, but are you really giving it your all in that dialogue?

Are you settling for hearing of God’s grace and mercy knowing you have it, but not feeling His loving arms wrap around your hurting body?

Are you settling for knowing the stories of the Bible like they will be on a test, than knowing the heart behind the stories?

I’ve confused a bump into God during a worship service. I’ve felt something that was beyond what I could describe. But instead of taking it one step further, I was content with that bump.

Bumps are temporary.

Touches are eternal.

There is a story in the Bible of a rich man who asked Jesus what He needed to do to go to Heaven.

“And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”
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Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This rich young ruler bumped into Jesus. He didn’t want to take the extra step to fully touch Him.

Then there is this beautiful story, when people were bumping into Jesus, but one person touched Him. Can you see the difference?

As Jesus went, the people pressed (bumped) around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭42‬-‭48‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭42‬-‭48‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Peter stated that people were pressing into Jesus, but we don’t hear about miracles happening just because they bumped into Jesus. We only hear of the miracle when the woman touched Jesus.

So, take a moment and reflect. Are you confusing bumps into God with touches of God?

I believe God can do incredible things with a bump, but it’s undeniable what He has done with a touch.

May you seek after and not allow a bump to be the only touch you get. And the beautiful thing is, Jesus knows the difference. He knows when people are just bumping into Him. He feels something different when we reach out our trembling hands just for a touch.

And He stops and He speaks when we do.

So may we reach out for Him and feel something more than a brush on a shoulder. May you feel a touch.

Peace