Immense in mercy and with an incredible love, He embraced us.  (Ephesians 2:5)

God gives hugs. He gives them through our people. He gives them in gorgeous sunrises and starlit nights. He gives them in unexpected kindnesses and unearned grace. God’s goodness toward us has no off switch. We’re the object of His love and the joy of His heart. Is that a joyous choir I hear? No, it is the Lord Himself exulting over you in happy song. (Zephaniah 3:18) Whenever we have doubtful days, and we’ll have them, our way back to confident faith is watching with expectation for the hugs God will send—and when they come, we need to embrace Him back with gratefulness and praise. He’s our comforter at all times…when our day is long and hard, when we feel under appreciated and overworked, when we push through the difficult hours in quiet prayer. We’re in His thoughts no matter how we feel, and believing that truth in spite of our feelings can bring us a comfort we never thought possible. You are my hiding place from every storm of life. (Psalm 32:7) God is for us—as our shield, our strength, our hope, and our victory—and in our Father’s arms we are hugged, held, and loved. 

(excerpt from IN THIS TOGETHER, 90 Devotions from the Book of Ephesians)