Try this
I'm pretty sure that the Word VBA gurus that hang out here can improve it, but it seems to work
Option Explicit
Sub Test2()
With Selection
.HomeKey Unit:=wdStory
.Find.ClearFormatting
.Find.Text = "[! ]^=[! ]"
.Find.Forward = True
.Find.Wrap = wdFindContinue
.Find.MatchWildcards = True
Do While .Find.Execute(Forward:=True)
.MoveLeft Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1
.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1
.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1, Extend:=wdExtend
.Range.HighlightColorIndex = wdPink
.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1
Loop
End With
End Sub