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If Father's Day is Hard

All throughout scripture, God is referred to as “Father”. Often our experiences trump our head knowledge when we draw conclusions, and it’s a lot easier to assume that God is like our dad, because we’ve experienced in a tangible, visible way what our dads are like and assume from that experience that we know what a dad does.

But here’s the thing, God can not be “like” anyone, because he IS. Instead of looking to your earthly father to understand God, look to God to understand what a father should be.

Our Father is gracious and kind, slow to anger. Abounding in love, steadfastly faithful. In control but not controlling. He is mercy and grace. He never leaves. He is good, He is untainted by sin. He is protector and defender, provider and giver of good gifts.

Maybe your earthly father is as clear a reflection of God as a human can allow, or maybe his own brokenness shattered the mirror to bits. Or maybe his mirror is cracked in a few places, but the reflection is still there.

Spend a few minutes this weekend reflecting on the character of God from scripture, not from what you think you know of Him from experience or what you’ve been told. If you’ve always thought of God as being like your dad, try going the other way. Allow who God is to inform how you think of Him as Father. Ask Him to show you where any wounds in your relationship with your earthly father are hurting your relationship with Him. He is healer, He is redeemer, and He, as the ultimate Father, wants to heal and redeem you and make you completely whole.

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