hoped for in a relationship with your dad, but hardly received? Regardless of what the day brought, I submit to you that with God, the Heavenly Father, every day can be a day to celebrate “Father’s Day.”
The relationship you have shared or not shared with your earthly dad tends to positively or negatively affect how you respond to your husband and children, to your friends, and even to your Heavenly Father. But what if you did things differently? What if the
relationship that you share with your Heavenly Father was the priority starting point in affecting and influencing all other relationships you have on earth? What would those relationships look like? How would they function? Would they be an example of Christ’s love and grace? Could God display His work within your family and friendships and be glorified?
In a dysfunctional world of wounded hearts and broken relationships, we hardly understand how to embrace and trust a Father who is perfect and holy in all His ways. A Father who is always faithful, completely trustworthy, full of unfailing love and compassion, graciously forgiving, forever all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing, and
all-sufficient, and entirely sovereign. To comprehend a Father who loves and gives flawlessly and unconditionally, who desires to be in a relationship with you strictly because He created you and you are valuable to Him.
“Yet, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, You are the Potter; we are all the
work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)
If you cannot fathom a Father such as this, my encouragement to you is to just take some time and spend it with the Heavenly Father. Open up His Word and read what He has written for you to learn about the Father He is and His love for you. Study His truth, consider His promises, take Him at His word, and ultimately believe in His Son, the
Savior, and the Gospel. Discover who the Father is and who you are in Christ. Let the Father’s grace and mercy wash over you and penetrate your heart and soul.
As that relationship develops and strengthens and you learn to trust the Father and place your faith in His Son, Jesus, I don’t think you will be able to hold on to that love for yourself, but it will naturally overflow into all your other relationships. Through time
each day with the Father, He will remind you of His consistent presence. He will guide you by the power of His Spirit in how to respond with His love and grace to your spouse and children, to your friends, and to your earthly dad. This practice may be difficult and take some time, but we were never meant to carry out our relationships on earth apart from the Father.
Celebrate with thanksgiving God’s love for you and begin each day with the Father…after all, every day is our “Father’s Day.”
“But You, O LORD, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in
love and faithfulness…You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.” (Psalm 86:15;
89:26)
Tamar Miller