Learning to Embrace Christ, Like a Hug, in Everyday Faith

The author begins by admitting she is not naturally affectionate. Raised in a family that showed love through service and quality time, she felt loved but was not physically demonstrative, and she describes bracing herself during hugs from her mother-in-law. A remark from a younger ministry assistant on a hard day made her reconsider that habit and led her to think about what an embrace can teach about how Christ draws near to people.

Her central idea is that to embrace Christ means to receive Him by faith, to know and treasure His Word, to welcome His presence in everyday life, and to rest in His love during hard seasons. She notes that an embrace assumes a relationship, so knowing Christ goes beyond knowing facts about Him. Time in Scripture deepens that relationship, not as a way of earning access to God, but as a way of getting to know the God who has already revealed Himself. She also says that God’s presence reaches into ordinary tasks, from washing dishes to sitting with an aging parent, and that believers can delight in Christ now while looking forward to seeing Him face to face.

Drawing on the parable of the prodigal son, which she suggests might be called “The Running Father,” the author emphasizes that the son did not earn his welcome. The father saw him coming, ran to him, and embraced him. In her reading, believers do not embrace Christ to persuade Him to come near; they respond to the fact that God has already come near through His Son.

Finally, she addresses times of grief, when people long for Christ’s physical presence. She points to Hebrews 4:15–16 and the invitation to approach the throne of grace with confidence, and she suggests that an embrace requires drawing close enough to receive what is offered. The post closes by encouraging readers to embrace Christ by faith, know Him in His Word, treasure His presence in ordinary days, run to Him in grief, and rest in His grace.

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