The Saviour's Nearness: a Touch for Every Trial

My dear brethren, have you ever felt the crushing weight of life's sorrows, your very soul crying out, "Be not far from me, O Lord!"?

In ancient times, the saints, though faithful, often perceived God's heavy hand of discipline in their afflictions. They bore the isolation of their failings, the chill of human desertion, longing for a nearness to God just beyond their grasp. Their hearts yearned for rescue, for an advocate, for a God who would draw close when all others fled.

But blessed be His name! A new morning dawned in Christ Jesus, our Immanuel! No longer must we lament a perceived distance. Look, my friends, to Jairus, a man of standing, humbled before the Master, pleading, "Come and lay Your hands on her!" And mark well the poor outcast woman, who dared to touch but the hem of His garment.

Here is the glorious marvel! What once felt like a hand of judicial pressure is now revealed as the very hand of intimate, life-giving grace! Jesus, our Lord, does not shrink from death or defilement. No, He *enters* that space! His touch, far from being tainted, purifies; far from catching death, it raises to life; it brings cleansing and wholeness! He breaks every barrier—social, spiritual, and ceremonial—to meet us in our deepest brokenness.

So, beloved, when you feel abandoned, when life's load presses sore, or your own failings overwhelm, remember: God has drawn near! In Christ, the ancient cry for proximity is answered. Cast aside all pride, dear soul, and like Jairus, invite Jesus into your 'lost causes.' His holiness does not defile, but makes you whole. He promises unwavering fidelity. His touch transforms! Trust Him, for He is our salvation, ever ready to end the dark seasons of our souls and bring us into His marvelous light!

(Source: A modern reflection adopted from the style of Charles Spurgeon)