homes. Another study found that 75 % of adolescent patients in substance abuse centers are from fatherless homes.” In addition,“ 63 % of youth suicides... and 85 % of children who exhibit behavioral disorders” come from homes without fathers present. depression and suicidal thoughts because my depression was being fueled by the fatherless chaos I was raised in. Depression was simply a symptom of a chaotic life that lacked the foundation, structure, and identity that fathers are designed by God to provide.
Fatherlessness not only affects mental health but also impacts financial outcomes, educational outcomes, and criminal activity. Fatherlessness is directly linked to anxiety, depression, suicide, poverty, incarceration, and a host of other challenges. The facts paint a clear picture: When humanity deviates from God’ s order, chaos always results. God’ s order includes a healthy, present, invested father. A good dad defends his children from the chaos of society. Wherever there’ s fatherlessness, there will also be chaos.
My dad was incarcerated for eighteen years and battled a drug addiction for decades. I grew up in a chaotic home, within the wider culture of a chaotic neighborhood, and I bucked against the order of male authority figures my entire teenage life. I hated the idea of order and submitting to my father’ s authority because it was so foreign to the way I grew up, but then I realized I’ d never actually mature if I didn’ t embrace Order and reject Chaos. It didn’ t matter how many earnest prayers I offered to God, desperately asking Him for peace; until I embraced His Order, I continued to struggle with
Order extends way past sequence and authority. The Bible outlines a rhythm for life. We’ re designed to work for six days and rest for one day. Chick-fil-A style. Closed on Sundays.
Yahweh commanded the people of Israel in the Old Testament to allow their land to rest every seven years— no crops, no planting, no harvesting. Modern scientists have proven that this practice of allowing the soil to rest has incredible health outcomes for humans and the environment. Genesis teaches that you and I were made from the dirt of the ground, and we also require rest if we’ re going to experience optimal fruitfulness. Adam was created from the dirt, which in Hebrew is called adamah. 11 Adam’ s name literally means“ dirt man.”
Jesus teaches that the seed of God’ s Word should be planted in the soil of our hearts( Matthew 13:23). Paul teaches that the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control should be growing from the soil of our very beings( Galatians 5:22 – 23). The Bible acknowledges that we are
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