As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. Psalm 103:13
What do you think when you read this verse? Some of you may think, “Of course our God is a compassionate Father – that’s Who He is!” but others may have trouble connecting the words “father” and “compassion” in the same sentence.
God uses experiences we have in our lives to teach us about His character, but what if we don’t have good memories with our earthly dad, or even memories at all? How do we relate to God as our Father then?
Not An Earthly Father
When we hear how God lovingly provides for His children, how He cares about every aspect of our lives, not all of us have a good frame of reference to help us understand what that really looks like. Some of us may indeed see this type of father in our own earthly dads, or maybe in the father our husbands are to our children. But some of us may have never witnessed a father who smiles, or says “I love you,” or even behaves as if he likes you. But we need to know that this is not the type of father our God is.
Our Father is proud of us. He’s excited to spend time with us. He is the Father who always shows up, who is always with us and is ready and willing to help us in any situation – no judgment, no scoffing at our mistakes, only unconditional love. He is never late, but always right on time. He cries with us when we cry. He laughs when we laugh. He is the father who claps the loudest, who cheers us on and celebrates our victories with us, no matter how seemingly insignificant. Our father is never angry with us, He never yells, He never says “I told you so” when we mess up. He is with us for the long haul, helping us to grow and molding us into the person He created us to be. Isaiah 64:8 says,
But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You are our potter; And we are all the work of Your hand.
His Precious Workmanship
God molded us Himself, working with precision and delicacy because we are His.
Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. 1 Corinthians 8:6
If you haven’t found this father, if you keep thinking there is no such thing, these words are for you. I was 27 when I truly understood that such a father exists. Maybe you’re younger than that, or maybe not, but God can always be found. He is standing right there, waiting to be welcomed into your heart so He can show You just how deeply He loves you, His child. He wants you to know that no matter what has happened, or is happening, in your life, everything is going to be okay because He is with you.
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20
God made us to be with Him. When we were separated from Him by sin entering into the world, He stopped at nothing to get us back, going so far as to send His own Son down to face unimaginable pain and free us from our bondage. Because of Jesus’s sacrifice, we can have the same loving father-child relationship that Adam and Eve enjoyed with God before the fall.
Learning About Your Father
If you are a new believer, or just want to get to know your Heavenly Father more deeply, there are specific places in His Word you can start with to learn more and His character and His promises for you. Romans 8:28 says,
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
This is a fantastic verse to stand on when you face challenges, especially those that seem to have no solution and no end. If our Heavenly Father is on our side, and is actively working out all things for our benefit, we can leave our worries at His feet and rest in this knowledge. This is just one of the many promises He has for us in His word. Here are some other verses you should read to learn about who our Father is: Ephesians 1:4, John 1:12-13, James 1:17, and 2 Peter 1:3-4.
The more you learn about God, the more confidence you’ll be able to have in His unconditional love for you and His never-ending provision in every situation. If you have never known a loving earthly father, God wants to come in and heal your heart. Deuteronomy 31:6 says,
Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is the One who is going with you. He will not desert you or abandon you.
Your Heavenly Father will never, ever leave you. You never have to feel the absence of a father’s love again, because He is positively overflowing with love towards you. When you feel alone and hopeless, run to Him and know that His plans for you are good. He is ready, waiting, and willing to accept you just as you are. Don’t be afraid to trust Him today. His arms are open always and He will never let you go.
