Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
Psalm 68:5, NLT
Once, I came across an entry in a Bible Study in which the author encouraged readers to approach our Heavenly Father the way we would our earthly fathers. While I understood the sentiment, sadly, for many, their relationship with their biological fathers is strained or, for some, non-existent.
Maybe our dad abandoned us during a season of childhood when we needed him.
Perhaps our fathers worked far more hours than he spent with us.
Or maybe our father was emotionally distant or abusive.
The pain of parental abandonment devastates us and has far-reaching effects. Even well into adulthood, the wounds and scars sometimes stick with us throughout our lifetime. For better or worse, our experience with our earthly father often dictates how we relate to our heavenly Father. The fatherless carry a heavy burden of shame because of their parent’s absence. Children who grow up in homes without their dad blame themselves for the loss and assume God exhibits the same traits as those who have disappointed, discouraged, or distanced themselves from us.
God understands the importance of a secure, fatherly relationship for His children’s wellbeing. His Word rebukes the lie that we are unworthy of love. God demonstrates how much he values our relationship through His Word and actions. 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). Let’s explore more attributes of God the Father and who He says we are as His children.
Heavenly Father
God’s Word asserts that He fulfills the role of our Father and deserves our trust! In Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, he shared that God formed everything. The passage describes Him as the one true God who fashioned us and gave us our existence (1 Corinthians 8:6). In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus shared a sharp word about the religious leaders during that time preaching but not practicing the truths they taught. He goes as far as to tell the crowds and disciples not to call anyone on earth father because the title belonged to God. God’s actions backed up His title as Heavenly Father when He stooped low through Christ to demonstrate His love for His children (Matthew 23:9).
So many of us have faced disappointment and maybe even the pain of being disowned by our earthly fathers, but God the Father keeps His Word. If you don’t have an earthly father because they passed away or some other complicated circumstance, may we find comfort in the truth from our key verse, God fathers the fatherless (Psalm 68:5). The psalmist reminds us that even if our earthly parents abandon us, the LORD holds us close (Psalm 27:10). When we see “LORD” (all caps) in scripture, this signifies the use of the Hebrew proper name “Yahweh” used for God. Yahweh means the One True God. Picture it with me; the God of the universe takes you and me and holds us tenderly like a mother nestling her a newborn baby. Finally, Paul called God the Father of compassion in his letter to the Corinthian church. The word translated for compassion describes God’s deep feelings about our difficulty and misfortune. You may have felt invisible to your earthly dad, or your heart may break with the grief over the loss of your dad, but the Father of compassion sees you, cares for you, and comforts your painful places (2 Corinthians 1:3).
Children of God
God’s Word says that we become His children if we believe in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26). Our Heavenly Father loves us. Many places in scripture use the word beloved to address God’s people (see 1 John 3:2). Beloved is a term of endearment. Think of it as a pet name you may use for someone you love. I often call my children by their nicknames or simply call them baby. The more intimacy we have with someone, the more likely that person will adopt a few terms of endearment. God addresses us with a name that demonstrates His love and desire to have a close relationship with us.
Children are vulnerable and dependent on their parents for provision. God’s Word reminds us that we are also heirs since we belong to Him as His children. An heir inherits what belonged to their father, usually earthly possessions such as property or money; sometimes, we even inherit our parent’s debt. As God’s children, we inherit everything from His suffering to His glory (Romans 8:17). Our relationship as God’s child doesn’t exempt us from the pain of this life. However, it’s encouraging to know that we inherit the glory of God, which scripture tells usurps the suffering we face in this life (Romans 8:18).
We also get the bonus of adoption into God’s family since He has many children. This truth is especially significant for those of us who come from busted families. I know my brothers and sisters in Christ have become some of my most treasured relationships, and this is all because God adopts us into His family (Ephesians 1:5). So even if we don’t have a perfect relationship with our earthly father or family, we don’t have to live in fear because we can now call out to our Father in heaven with our every need (Romans 8:15).
Expect even the best Dads on this side of heaven to fail us; they are human. But our heavenly Father never will. He loves us, and His great delight is to become Father to the Fatherless. Laced throughout the pages of scripture are reminders of God’s goodness and how He 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. Ask God to reveal Himself to you as Father if it feels awkward. Search the Bible for scriptures that illuminate God the Father and how He longs to be with His us, His children.
