The Father Ache

Sharon JaynesGod's love, Knowing God, Trusting God 28 Comments

Father’s Day is coming up in just a few days. For some, it is a lonely day because the dad they loved has passed away or is absent from their lives.  For some it is a painful day because of past memories and disappointments. Wherever you are on the continuum of happy to heartbroken this Father’s Day,  keep reading to be reminded that you have a Heavenly Father who is the best dad of all.

I hugged my pink stuffed poodle to my chest. We were about to have a serious conversation, even though I would be the only one talking. My ten-year-old self looked into his black button eyes and confided the empty ache that I dare not admit to anyone. I didn’t say the words out loud. I didn’t need to. We were close like that.

I wish I had a daddy who loved me, I began. I wish I had a daddy who would kiss me on the cheek when he came home from work, tickle my sides after catching me in a game of chase, and carry me piggyback in the park. I wish I had a daddy who liked me. Hugged me. Said nice things about me.

I wish my daddy didn’t ignore me and act like I wasn’t in the room. I wish I wasn’t afraid of him. I wish I had a daddy who loved me. Poodle understood.

I remember sitting at my friend’s house watching her daddy stroke her long red hair as she sat in his lap and leaned her head on his chest. For the two of them, it was nothing special. To me it was magical. I tried not to stare. Mr. Jack loved his daughters and I wished I were one of them.

The scars of being an unwanted child, an abused child, or even an ignored child run deep. They cut against the very grain of what God intended the relationship between a parent and child was created to be. But even the deep trenches left on a little girl heart, trenches cut like careless tires through soggy earth, can be filled in with God’s love and healed by His grace.

No parent is perfect. None can be available all the time—physically or emotionally. From time to time parents are too controlling, too protective, or too permissive. They lose their temper, patience, and control. They fly off the handle and fly by the seat of their pants. All parents have feet of clay—including me!

Maybe that’s your story, hopefully not. But here’s something that is your story, and mine. We all have a daddy who loves us. That is God the Father.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He said, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you… your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven, (Matthew 6:6,8-9)

Of all the names Jesus used for God, He used Father more than any other…and He invites us to do the same.

John wrote: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1 NIV).  Think about that. The God of the universe who created the heavens and the earth; who always has been and always will be; who is all knowing, all powerful, and present everywhere at once—that same God invites you to call Him Abba (meaning Daddy).

One day my friend, Gayle, had her granddaughter, Carlie, and her little friend in the back seat of her car while she ran errands. Carlie knew her daddy; her friend had never known hers.

While riding in the car, Carlie’s little friend said, “I wish I had a daddy like you have a daddy.”

Carlie replied, “Oh, you do have a daddy.”

“No, I don’t. I want a daddy like you have a daddy. I wish I had a daddy.”

“But you do have a daddy,” Carlie insisted. “We all have a daddy. God is our daddy. He’s everybody’s daddy.”

Gayle looked in her rearview mirror and saw Carlie’s friend hold up her hands in exasperation. “Why has nobody ever told me this?!”

No matter what kind of father you had as a child, here’s one thing I want you to remember: you have a Heavenly Father who loves and adores you. You are the apple of your Daddy’s eye (Psalm 17:8).

Heavenly Father, oh how I love You. Thank You for adopting me into Your family and making me Your child. Thank You for being my heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally, care for me unendingly, and provides for all my needs. I am so blessed to be Your child. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Leave a comment and share one aspect of the fatherhood of God that means the most to you. I’ll go first…He loves me no matter what.

Father is just one of the many names for God in the Bible. To learn more about the His many names and what they mean for you, grab a copy of Knowing God by Name. Better yet, grab a book and a handful of girlfri

Praying the Names of God Prayer Card - Sharon Jaynes

ends and go through the book together!

And if you want to make your prayer life even more powerful, check out my laminated card to help you Pray the Names of God.

Forward to a Friend


Did someone forward this devotion to you?
Click Here to Subscribe

Comments 28

  1. Thank you for this devotional. Father’s Day is one of the hardest days of the year for me. I needed to be reminded that I am adored by God.

    1. My heart was heavy. A very special woman sent this to me. I WAS that woman. Then i found my Father. Learning him knowing him and growing with him has made all my hurt turn to remorse foe my dad because he will never be the dad i needed. Through all i have been through and its a lot my TRUE FATHER has always been by my side. Thank you for sharing. Thanks for reading a little of my TESTIMONY.

  2. His Love for me. As a baby I was placed in foster care. Thankfully I was placed in a loving home where I had three older siblings who loved me dispute where I came from. But most of all I had parents who loved and cared for me as their own, especially my father. He was loving, caring, always teaching us and a God loving man who showed me that a church family was an extension of my home family. I was a part of that family as a foster for 12 years. Finally my birth mother signed the paperwork so I could be adopted by my foster parents. It was the happiest day of my life. When Dad came one from work that evening he had a poster from his coworkers “CONGRATULATIONS-It’s a GIRL”. He and my mother, were so thrilled. Dad passed 20 years ago and I miss him every day! But, I know he’s with his Heavenly Father watching the whole family and smiling.

  3. I have a Heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally no matter what I did in the past and from time to time His always there for me

  4. I love our amazing God, our father. I had a wonderful dad who loved me. My husband is an amazing daddy. There are many amazing dads out there

  5. This touched my heart and brought me to tears , Memories of good and bad . Thank you for reminding me of how much God loves me and I can sit on his lap any time .

  6. I was the ignored child. I don’t think my dad liked me much, because I was quiet and shy. My mom loved me, but she and my dad had an up and down marriage. Later on my mom started drinking with my dad and they drank everyday, starting at 12 noon until bedtime. They were functional alcoholics, but the scares still remain. I was a girl looking for a father’s love in all the wrong men. My life was filled with one broken relationship after another. Then I met Jesus! Oh Glory! He is my special husband, Who never disappoints and loves me perfectly. And God, the Father is my special Daddy. The daddy, Who does not ignore me, but takes care of me and lavishes me with His love and personal care. Oh, how wonderful He is. And Jesus is also my brother, Who won’t abuse me. My joy is over the moon and back. Happy Father’s Day, Abba Father.

  7. As a 14 year old girl I remember crying out to God “why didn’t I deserve to have a dad?!?”
    In a still small voice that was very loud at the same time spoke to my heart. “I am your Father. Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. I will never leave you nor forsake you!” Then I realized I had the best Dad of all.

    1. Post
      Author

      Amen sister. I cried out, why can’t I have a dad like my friend Wanda. God replies…you’ve got one even better than that.

  8. Thank you for this encouraging message. My Dad passed away during last month and this Father’s day will be first without him. I still miss him so much but I know he will always continue to live on in my heart.

  9. Thanks for writing my story. Coming to know I have a Father who cherishes me just the way I am, one that I don’t have to strive and struggle to be perfect for, literally saved my sanity not just my soul. Our God is soooo good!

  10. I learned later in life like many that God is our Heavenly Father. And what is sad is if we had a dad who was not present in our lives or a step father who hurt us in different ways, we seem to take that image of them and view God in the same way. However it takes time and getting to know him and what His word says, will help each of us come to know Him as a loving Father. God is love and His love will never fail us.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *