I don’t want to deny that the love of a father is important to a child’s life. That’s why God made a mother and a father. And my heart breaks when I look around at the world today and see all the broken families suffering. Families without a mother or a father. Fathers who have been too selfish to stay and raise up godly children so they leave, or fathers who are there physically but emotionally absent.
My heart breaks for them.
I don’t know your particular situation. Maybe you have a wonderful, godly father in your life. Maybe your dad died before you were old enough to really remember him. Maybe your dad walked out a long time ago or your parents divorced when you were young and you go back and forth between them. Or maybe your dad wounded you so deeply until you had no choice but to push him out of your life.
I do not know the situation your life is in right now.
But I do know this:
You are not fatherless.
Even if you have the best, most wonderful dad in the world, I’m speaking to you too, because here’s the thing—your dad is going to disappoint you at some point in time. He is human. Just like you and me. We also disappoint our parents. That’s how it is with every relationship in life, if we try to find our fulfillment in a person.
Even if your father walked out on you years ago and you’ve never known his love, I’m especially speaking to you, because here’s the thing—the absence of an earthly father does not mean the absence of your heavenly Father.
Oh, yes, there’s the truth your heart so desperately needs.
I long to cup your beautiful face in my hands and look into your bright eyes as I whisper with all of my heart, “You earthly father may have failed you, but your heavenly Father? He never fails. His love? It has no end. His presence? It is always with you. You are not fatherless, because your true Father absolutely, positively, no-doubt-about-it, loves you.”
Don’t miss this, beautiful soul…
What your earthly father may have done or not done to you will hurt. I’m not saying it doesn’t. Because I understand. But what I am telling you is that you don’t have to stay stuck there. You don’t have to stay stuck in your pain, because your heavenly Father is a Healer.
Growing up, my mom never let us feel like we were missing out because we didn’t have a dad. She did everything she could to let us know that our heavenly Daddy adored us. And that’s why I’m so passionate about helping you understand it too.