Father to the Fatherless
By Ashley Moore
“Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy.” - Psalm 68:5, NLT
Over the last few months, I've studied God's various names. As I was reading, I came across an entry that encouraged readers to approach our Heavenly Father the way we would our earthly fathers. While I understood the sentiment, sadly, for many, the relationship with their biological fathers is strained or for some, non-existent.
Maybe our dad abandoned us during a season of childhood when we really needed him. Or perhaps our fathers worked far more hours compared to the time he spent with the family. Or maybe our father was emotionally distant or abusive.
I know the pain of parental abandonment; it is real and raw, and while time lessens the hurt, the scars stay with us throughout our lifetime. For better or worse, our experience with our earthly father often dictates how we relate to our heavenly Father. We assume that God will exhibit the same traits as those who have disappointed, discouraged, and distanced themselves from us.
But God knows how important a secure, fatherly relationship is to His children. He is not okay with us believing that we are not worthy of love. He never, not for a second, wants us to believe the lie that anything is more important than His relationship with us. And He captures every tear we shed in His bottle (Psalm 56:8). He is a safe refuge for us so we can flourish (Psalm 46:1). So let’s examine the attributes of God the Father and who He says we are as His children.
Heavenly Father
God’s Word tells us that He is our Father, and He can be trusted!
"But for us, there is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live." - 1 Corinthians 8:6
"And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven." - Matthew 23:9
"Surely you are still our Father! Even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us, LORD, you would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past." - Isaiah 63:16
"Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy." - Psalm 68:5
"Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close." - Psalm 27:10
God’s Word says we are His children. We are deeply loved and cared for by our Heavenly Father.
"For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:26
"Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." - 1 John 3:2
"And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering." - Romans 8:17
"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." - Ephesians 1:5
"So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, 'Abba, Father.'" - Romans 8:15
Even the best dad on this side of heaven will fail us, they are human, and it is to be expected. But our heavenly Father never will. He is a loving father to all, and it is His great delight to become Father to the Fatherless. Laced throughout the pages of Scripture are reminders that God is a good and loving dad who goes to great lengths to bring His children into a forever family.
Intersecting Life and Faith:
Instead of beginning prayers with Dear Lord or God, try calling God Father or Dad instead. If it feels awkward, ask God to reveal Himself to you as Father. Search the Bible for scriptures that illuminate God the Father and how He longs to be with His us, His children.
Further Reading:
Exchanging Father Wounds for the Love of God the Father
A Prayer to Remember His Faithfulness and Our Value
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/kieferpix
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