“A father of the fatherless and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.”

Psalm 68:5 KJV

One of the greatest social issues plaguing our culture today is the issue of fatherlessness.  Many have had an abusive father, an indifferent father or an absent father.  The lack of fathers in the home is devastating to families across the board.  Our cities and our jails are filled with angry young men and  young women who long for a father’s love and affirmation.  The author Gordon Dalby calls it “the father wound.”  When a father is absent in their lives, young people will seek to find  affirmation somewhere else.   Sadly, even many father’s who are in the home fail to engage with their children by guiding them, teaching them, loving them  and helping them to learn how to become responsible and thriving adults.   There is a deep longing in every child’s heart for a father’s love.

The good news  is that God Himself understands that need and that longing. The heart of the Heavenly Father breaks for those who have never had a father in their life.   And He desires  to be our Heavenly Father.  Jesus paid the price for sin in order to make that possible. Jesus has brought all who will receive Him into the Heavenly Father’s family. He welcomes us and  invites us to embrace and experience the love of  our Heavenly Father.  (John 17: 23-24).

God the Father is our perfect father.  He is always with us to teach us, strengthen us, guide us, protect us  and help us as we walk through life.   We are never alone!  When we do not know what to do, our Heavenly Father does and is available with  wisdom and counsel (Isaiah 9:6).  He is always for us and never against us!   He always desires the best for us in all areas of life.  And when He corrects us it is always with love.  Because of Jesus, no one ever has to be fatherless again! 

Rev. James W. Black