Faith that Touches God

I have been meditating on this scripture for a few weeks. It is found in Luke 8:44-46.

She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched Me?” Jesus asked. But they all denied it. “Master,” said Peter, “the people are crowding and pressing against You.” But Jesus declared, “Someone touched Me, for I know that power has gone out from Me.”

Jesus was surrounded by a multitude of people, literally thousands of people. Yet the moment someone touched Him with their faith, He knew it. That alone astounds me.

As you can imagine, people must have been pushing against each other and pressing in to see Jesus. There had to be people pushing other people out of the way to get a look at the Master, the Healer. Surely, thousands needed and wanted a touch from Jesus. What could have been so different about this woman that He felt her touch?

The disciples even asked Jesus how He could know that someone touched Him with so many people surrounding Him and pressing in to touch Him.

This was a different touch; this was not a simple bumping in a crowd. This touch caused the miracle-working power of God to flow out of Jesus. He knew it the moment it happened.

How, then, does one possess a faith that will touch God to the point that power will flow into us? Let’s look at some biblical examples of that kind of faith. A faith that touches God.

Think about King David. The Bible calls him a man after God’s heart, yet we see that David made many mistakes as we read. He killed a man so that he could have his wife. This is a man after God’s heart. Yes! He had faith in God, and no matter what he did, he clung to God.

The word touched in this passage means to fasten oneself to or adhere to. That’s what the woman with the issue of blood did when she touched Him. She clung to Him in such a way that virtue or God’s miraculous power came out of Him.

That is exactly what David did. No matter what mistake he made, he ran to God. He did not run from God when he messed up, as many of us do; he ran to Him. Even when he knew he was under the judgment of God for his sin, he still clung to God. When he was afraid, it was God he ran to. When he was rejoicing in victory, it was God to whom he sang. And in doing so, he touched God with his faith.

What about Abraham? Abraham obeyed God and left his home. He traveled to a land that God would show him. He did something many of us would not be willing to do. He packed up, left everything behind, and followed God. And if that wasn’t enough, once God blessed him with a son of promise, when God asked him to give him up, he was willing to do just as God commanded. He touched God with his faith, and a ram in the thicket was released on his behalf.

What about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Their faith in God brought them before a king who threw them into the fiery furnace. In anger, that king turned the furnace up seven times hotter. Yet, they stood firm in their faith and walked into that fire. Their faith touched God, and He sent a fourth man to walk through the fire with them. They, as we know, walked out unharmed. They didn’t even smell of fire as their faith touched their God.

Each time someone’s faith touches God, power is released on their behalf.

Luke 8:45 said multitudes were thronging Him. That means there were thousands of people all around Him. Let me ask you a question today: are you one of the throngers or do you desire to be one of those who touch Him with your faith? There are many people who say they are following God, but few ever touch Him with their faith.

How do you become a person who not only follows God but touches Him with your faith? Simple, you believe that He is who He said He is.

Abraham so believed that God was who He said He was that he knew if his son, Isaac, died that God would raise him up. That’s how Abraham could confidently say, “we are going to worship, and we shall come again.”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that God was the only God that could be worshipped. They were willing to die for that truth. They were not willing to bow to any other god. Even though they knew God could deliver them, they declared that even if He didn’t, they would not bow to another.

This instance alone is a good test for your faith in God. If God doesn’t deliver you, will you still worship Him? If you can say YES, then you, as they did, will touch God with your faith. He will be with you in the fire. He will not allow you to be burned, and He will bring you out without experiencing harm.

Many people are alive today who touch God with their faith. I think about Oral Roberts, who believed in God when everything was stacked against him. He stood in faith even though most people thought he was crazy. But today, you can look and see what happened when his faith touched Jesus, ORU was birthed, and they are still equipping students today to preach the gospel with power.

Think about it for a moment, I am sure you know someone who has stood against all odds; perhaps it was against sickness or divorce, or financial devastation. They stood in faith, and even though it may have looked like they were going down or had already gone down, their faith touched God. He moved every obstacle away and sent His miracle-working power to work on their behalf.

You too, can be a person whose faith will touch God. It’s simple but not always easy: believe He is who He said He is.

If you are facing illness, simply believe that He is the God who heals you. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, trust that He is Jehovah Jireh, your provider. If you are going through a dark season in your life, remember that He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is your light; He is with you, has your back, and will not let you down. He will guide you through your challenges and turn your situation around—He has promised. We serve a God who never breaks His promises.

How can your faith touch God? The same way the woman with the issue of blood did.

She pressed on, determined to touch Him, even if it was just a small part. She was resolute in reaching the Healer, despite every doctor telling her it was hopeless. Having spent every penny she owned in her quest for healing, she fought against the doubts that filled her mind. She made up her mind that no matter the obstacles in her path, she would touch the Healer! In doing so, she was not only healed but made whole that very hour.

If you are battling an illness and continue to confess what the Bible says about you, regardless of what you see or feel, your faith is reaching God. If you are facing financial hardships yet continue to give as God directs, and trust Him to meet your needs, your faith is touching God. If you are experiencing a crisis of faith that you don’t understand but continue to cling to God, your faith is touching Him.

When you face overwhelming challenges and stand firm, declaring, “Devil, I don’t care what you throw at me; I am going to trust my God and worship Him no matter what,” your faith reaches God. As your faith touches Him, He will unleash His incredible miracle-working power in your favor, moving heaven and earth to support you. He loves you immensely! He desires to bless you greatly! You are important to Him. Don’t give up, my friend. Keep pushing forward. If you must, push your way through and reach out to Him. Touch Him with your faith, and you will be transformed forever.