The Healing Power of Hugs

Hugs play a profound part in reflecting God's love. 

A simple embrace can become a source of healing, comfort, and spiritual connection for both the giver and the receiver!

Hugs can help us understand the concept of God's love in our daily lives – and there’s some science about how hugs help us emotionally, and how hugs are a physical manifestation of support and encouragement for someone who needs it!

If this episode encouraged you at all, would you share it with a friend? Maybe someone you’d like to hug today but can’t. 

Let us know what you think - send us a text here!!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Thank you so much for listening to your Encouraging
5-Minute Podcast.
We're Eric and Heather and welove being able to share some
time with you, and if you wouldlike a little bit more
encouragement, you're alwayswelcome to tune in to Virginia's
Home for Encouragement, wper.
If you're outside the listeningarea, the WPER app works great.
You can find more about that atWPERorg.
Now today we're talking aboutthe ways God's love moves

(00:27):
through our daily lives.
Sometimes it moves throughsomething so simple but so
powerful hugs.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Yeah, we all go through challenges, loneliness,
stress, anxiety, heartbreak.
But what if we understood thatsomething as small as a hug
could be one of the ways Godbrings healing, comfort,
connection into our lives?
Hugging isn't just a quick paton the back.
Although some people couldcount that as a hug, I say it's
got to be at least four or fiveseconds.
It's a spiritual action.

(00:56):
Hugs matter and they're part ofGod's design for human
connection.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
Oh, absolutely.
But before we talk about thespiritual side of things, let's
look at what science tells usabout hugs, because when we hug
someone, our brains release achemical.
It's called oxytocin.
Now this chemical createsfeelings of trust, it reduces
stress, it lowers blood pressure.
Right that regular hugs willboost immune systems.

(01:23):
They help with depression, theyhelp us feel more connected.
So when we embrace someone,we're not just offering warmth,
we're actually helping them feelbetter, not just physically but
emotionally.
And in a world where so manypeople feel isolated and alone,
a hug's a beautiful gift.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
Isn't it amazing that God created us in such a way
that something as small as a hugcan actually bring healing.
You know, throughout scripturewe see that God created us for
connection.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
In Genesis.

Speaker 2 (01:52):
Genesis 2.18,.
He said it's not good for manto be alone.
We were never meant to walkthrough life feeling isolated or
burdened by struggles.
We can connect in many waysthrough WPER, the radio station,
the internet, even throughlittle acts of kindness, but a
simple embrace can sometimesspeak louder than words.

(02:13):
Think about the story of theprodigal son in Luke 15.
When the lost son returned home, what did his father do?
Did he just stand at a distanceand say you know, wait there.
He ran to him, ran and embracedhim.
That hug wasn't just a greeting, it was a declaration of love,
forgiveness and belonging.

Speaker 1 (02:30):
I love that and think about Jesus himself.
Right, he constantly reachedout to people.
He touched and healed people.
He did not shy away fromphysical connection.
He laid hands on the sick, heembraced children, which at that
time was not something peopledid.
He showed love through hispresence and hugging.
I mean, if you think about it,is actually a reflection of

(02:53):
God's love.
It's a love that welcomes, it'sa love that comforts and it's a
love that reassures.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
Now, know this and you might think yourself not a
hugger.
That's okay, I would say yeah,it is okay, and I would say this
if you're not a hugger, you canlearn to be a hugger, sure,
sure, and you will grow to loveit.
But if you are a hugger, asimple hug for someone can be a
ministry when you really thinkabout it.

Speaker 1 (03:20):
Absolutely.
Think about people in your lifewho might need encouragement.
Maybe there's a friend that'sbeen struggling, or you know a
family member that carries a lotof stress.
Someone at church, maybe atwork or in your community that
you know just needs to feel seenA hug, yeah, and we're talking.

Speaker 2 (03:40):
A genuine, sincere hug can remind someone that, hey
, you are not alone, I'm here.

Speaker 1 (03:45):
Yeah, and not just you, but that God sees them as
well.
And maybe the next time you seesomebody who needs that kind of
comfort, instead of just sayingsomething, offer a hug and let
that embrace be a physicalreminder, not just for you but
for them, of God's love.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
God created us for connection, and one of the
simplest ways we can share hislove is through a hug.

Speaker 1 (04:11):
Isn't that cool.

Speaker 2 (04:12):
Sometimes I think we underestimate the power of this.
Really, it's a small thing, butit is profound.

Speaker 1 (04:16):
Absolutely, and we just want to say thank you for
allowing us to spend a littletime with you today, and if this
episode encouraged you at all,would you share it with a friend
?

Speaker 2 (04:26):
Hey, and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss
an uplifting message.
It's always about encouragementduring our five-minute
encouraging podcast and we'lljust let you know again.
If you need more encouragementeven right now, you can go back
to the start and listen again,or you can listen to Virginia's
Home for Encouragement WPER.

Speaker 1 (04:45):
Now, if you're outside the listening area, you
can always listen at WPERorg or,while you're there, you can
download the WPER app and listenanywhere you go.