A Tangible God

Throughout the last decade of my life, I have often been frustrated that God is not tangible. Many times I've just needed a hug from Him, or have just wanted to snuggle with Him. I've often cried out, "Why can't you just be tangible?!? I just want to feel you." I know He's with me, even though I can't feel Him. But, I just want to feel His arms wrapped around me. I want to hear His heartbeat as my head leans against His chest. I want Him to be touchable.

But, I know it's better that He's not. He told His disciples that it was better for them that He go away, so that He could send His Holy Spirit. His Spirit would be able to do what He could not. He could not be with each one of them at the same time no matter where they were, but His Spirit could be. Even though I know it's better that He's not tangible, I still want Him to be. I long to feel Him in a real, physical way.

I was journaling about all of this recently, asking Him if I could feel Him like I can feel my friend. So often I don't think I can feel Him. I try, but it doesn't feel real. In a moment of wanting Him to be so real, I wrote, "If you're real, I want to hear you. If you're real, I want to feel you. What do you smell like?" I have a sensitive nose. When I go into someone's house or meet someone, I notice their scent. Everyone's is different. Some of those scents are comforting, because they are associated with people I'm close with. It only seems to reason that God must have a scent, right?

After asking God what He smells like, my thoughts went into overdrive. I began to write,

You sound like the water trickling in the stream. You feel like a warm blanket wrapped around me. You smell like the earth after it rains. You sound like birdsong. You feel like cozy pajamas. You smell like fleshly bloomed flowers. You sound like the wind blowing through the trees, and you feel like the wind blowing through my hair. You smell like my favorite candle burning. You sound like the rain dripping on the roof. You feel like a warm shower. You smell like fresh brewed coffee. You feel like the sun shining warm on my face.

Scripture wasn't kidding when it was written that, "...the whole earth is filled with His glory" (Isaiah 6:3). He is all around me. All I have to do is look around to tangibly see, feel, hear, and smell Him. To smell Him, I just have to discover what scents bring me joy. To hear Him, I listen for what sounds bring peace to my soul. To feel Him, I think about what I can feel that brings comfort. And seeing Him? Well, I just look around.

He may not be tangible like you and me, but He's still a tangible God.