Our view and relationship with our earthly dad is reflected in our view and relationship with our heavenly Dad. For this reason, I believe it is incredibly important to turn to scripture and learn about our heavenly Father this Father’s Day. If you don’t have a great relationship with your earthly dad, I pray that today you would spend extra time getting to known your heavenly Dad. One way to do this is to begin understanding the names of God, which will help us understand His character.
Read what Jesus says to God the Father, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” John 17:24.
Before anything was created, before God ruled the world, God was a Father loving his Son. This means that God’s first name, the first way He describes Himself, the first part of His identity, is Father.
When you first introduce yourself to someone, what do you say? “Hi, I’m Joy. I’m a follower of Jesus, seminary student, blogger, daughter, and friend.” If God answered this question, His first answer would be Father. “Hi, I’m God the Father.” This means that all that God does, all His ways, all His decisions, are beautifully fatherly. That is His first identity.
God is a kind and loving Father. And His love for the world flows out of His almighty love for His Son. (Click to Tweet!)
To have the name Father, He must give out life and love. This is not something He has, rather it is who He is. God the Father is love. If He did not love, He would not be Father.
“There is a level of bond in love that a parent has for their kid that you don’t have for anyone else… There is something special about the parent-kid love.” -Jefferson Bethke
That is the kind of love God has for us.
Have you spent time thinking about God as Father? This might be a challenge if your earthly dad was not the Father you hoped he would be. Know that God the Father is nothing like your earthly father. Even when your earthly dads fail, your heavenly Father will never fail.
In addition to being a Father, God the Father has many other names. His names reveal His person, represent His person and are therefore sacred.
WHAT ARE A FEW OTHER NAMES OF GOD?
- Creator God, Elohim, of the entire universe. (Click to read: Why did God create us?)
- Adonai, “master, Lord.”
- YHWH, “the LORD, I AM.”
- Elohim, God is powerful and keeps His promises.
- Husband. “In that day, declares the Lord. You will call me my husband, you will no longer call me my master.” Hosea 2:16.
- Judge of all the earth. “Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25.
- Shepherd. “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” Psalm 23:1.
- Rock. “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2.
If one of the above names of God stands out to you, spend time reflecting on the verse that goes along with the name.
Last year for Father’s Day, I shared a list of scripture verses, #DADDYISSUES Unveiled and Truth to Set You Free. These Bible verses were glimpses of how God views His precious daughters. Today, I want to share that same list with you as encouragement this Father’s Day.
If your earthly dad doesn’t think you are beautiful, trust that your heavenly Dad is proclaiming that you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
If you doubt your earthly dad’s love for you, know that your heavenly Father says you are more precious than rubies; nothing He desires can compare with you (Proverbs 3:15).
If your earthly dad says or thinks you aren’t good enough, remember that your heavenly Dad called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a daughter for His own possession (1 Peter 2:9).
If your earthly father is hateful, know that your heavenly Dad is like a father to His children; tender and compassionate to those who fear Him (Psalm 103:13).
If your earthly dad holds a grudge, trust that your heavenly Father will be kind and forgive your offenses (Ephesians 4:32).
If your earthly father takes out his anger on you, believe that your heavenly Dad is slow to anger and is always merciful (Psalm 103:6, 9-10).
If your dad refuses to forget your past mistakes, remember that The Lord doesn’t hold your past mistakes against you. He forgives and forgets (Psalm 103:12).
If your earthly dad cares more about building himself up than building you up, know that your heavenly Father knows His children’s weaknesses but chooses to build them up and redeem them instead of Himself (Psalm 103:14-18).
If your earthly dad leaves your family or chooses another family, know that your heavenly Father always goes with you, will never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).
If your earthly father is physically or emotionally abusive, believe that The Lord will deliver you from all afflictions (Psalm 34:19). You are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; you are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
If your earthly dad fails to live up to his fatherly responsibilities and fails to provide for you, fear not because it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).
The love we experience on earth will never compare to God’s love for us. Our hearts have been made to cry out for a love that can only come from our Creator. The best way to experience this love is to get to know our Triune God. Get to know His character.
Because God is a loving Father, His love for you is enough.
Because God is Husband, you can find satisfying love in Him.
Because God is our Rock, even when He feels far away He is still there.
No matter what your relationship with your dad looks like, know that your identity is not found in your earthly father’s love. Your identity is found in our heavenly Father’s Triune love and that is GOOD news!
You are loved. You are valued. You are cared for. You are HIS.
Do you know someone who may have a hard day this Father’s Day? Send them this post and let them know that they are LOVED by their heavenly Father.
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Debra Pedrow
at (8 years ago)Love this post! Understanding God as our heavenly Father, is important to our understanding of the totality of who God is.