I have spoken about my Dad in previous blogs. He and I had a very difficult relationship. My dad was an abusive alcoholic and I was an angry child. But, deep down, we did love each other dearly. I remember watching shows like My Three Sons, Leave it to Beaver, or my favorite, Family Affair. (I know, I just told you that I am pretty old, lol). But when I watched these shows, I would often think, “I wish my dad was like that.”
Because of what the enemy has done to the family and the way that He has torn it apart, most children and their fathers have damaged relationships.
There is such a high divorce rate that children don’t have a dad they can rush home to. They do not have a dad to read to them at bedtime. And they don’t have a dad in the home that they can turn to for protection or advice. When they misbehave, dad is typically not there to guide and discipline.
Similarly, when there is a dad in the home, sometimes there are addiction issues. Or abuse issues. And these cause a slew of other problems in — and for — children.
The reality is that the father & child relationship is in deep trouble and dysfunction.
Fortunately, our Heavenly Father wants to fill that role. He wants to be that Daddy who loves us deeply, protects and watches over us, even disciplines and guides. And He wants to heal those old wounds and scars!
And God even devised a plan that would allow for that to take place. It was a plan in which He gave His own Son as a sacrifice for us, so that we could be called children of God. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Galatians 4:4-6.
And, when we repent of our sins, ask for forgiveness, and begin to live our lives for Jesus, God adopts us as His very own children. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9. And then, He becomes our Heavenly Dad! “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” Galatians 3:26.
But what does that mean in terms of a Father & child relationship for us?
Scripture says that God will provide for our needs (not our wants, but our needs). “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
It says that He will help us when we are in trouble. That doesn’t mean He is like a genie in a bottle that you pray to when you are in trouble. And it doesn’t mean He will help you win the lottery when you have money woes. Sometimes, His help comes in a form that we don’t even recognize until much later. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1.
Scripture also tells us that God loves us. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1.
It says that He will never leave or betray us and we have no need for fear. “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8.
Scripture even says that God provides us with good gifts. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17.
And, because He is a loving Heavenly Father who wants the best for us, He even disciplines. “My child, don’t reject the LORD’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights”. Proverbs 3:11-12.
The God of all creation wants to adopt each of us as His very own child. He wants to be that dad that we have always wanted. God wants to love, protect, provide, and guide us like a perfect Father.
He even wants to heal our broken hearts over the damaged relationships we may have with our earthly dads. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3.
And God wants to heal our broken father & child relationships. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),” Ephesians 6:2. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32. “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8. And, once we know Jesus as our Savior, we can do what these three verses are saying. Because we do it in His strength, not ours.
Those three verses are the recipe for healing a broken father and child relationship. I know because it is what healed my relationship with my own dad. And it is what led to His accepting Jesus as His own personal Savior. I am overjoyed to know that my earthly dad is now with my Heavenly dad, waiting for me to get there. THANK YOU, JESUS!!
Our Heavenly Father also wants to spend time with us. He wants to be in constant communication with us. “pray without ceasing,” 1 Thessalonians 5:17. And He left us an instruction manual to assist us in maneuvering through this landmine called life. It is His Holy Word, the Bible.
When our Heavenly Father has gone to such lengths to have an intimate and loving relationship with us and to help us, why aren’t we seeking more of Him? Are we reading His Word? Are we seeking His guidance? Do we pray with out ceasing? Do we pray much at all? I encourage you to seek a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father. We should hunger for more and more of Him.
Father God, we praise and thank You that You desired such a beautiful and intimate relationship with us. We praise and thank You that You devised a plan so that we could have this kind of relationship with You. We have rebelled, rejected, and been lords of our own lives. Yet, You loved us even when we were unlovable. Thank You, Father.
Thank You, Jesus, for loving us so deeply that You would give Your own life as a ransom for ours. And thank You for desiring that we would be one with You even as You are one with our Heavenly Father. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:20-21.
Holy Spirit, thank You for walking through this life with us and leading us through those landmines. Please, lead us to spend more time in prayer with our Heavenly Father. Lead us to seek more of Him. Lead us to seek a deeper relationship with Him. And please, lead us to hunger for His word. We pray these things in Jesus’s precious name. Amen.
Because of the destruction of the family structure, many of us have strained, damaged, and even non-existent relationships with our fathers. Have you had a tumultuous relationship with your dad? Do you even have a relationship with your dad? And have you too thought (like I have), “I wish my Dad was like that“?
Well, the God of all creation wants to be your dad. No one will ever be more forgiving, more loving, or more protecting than He is. And all that is required for a loving and intimate relationship with Him is that you say a repentant and heartfelt prayer and begin to live your life as a new and forgiven daughter/son of God! There is a prayer outlined on our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/). Please go to that page and pray that prayer, from the bottom of your heart. God tells us that, if we seek Him with our whole heart, we will find Him. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. He wants to be your Abba Father. He wants to be your Heavenly Dad!
Please pray that prayer and, once you have, reach out to me and let me know so that I can be in prayer with and for you. And so that I can welcome you into the family! 🙂
Luv Ya!
