I wanted a daddy who loved me—a daddy like my friend Wanda had.
He held her hand, sat her in his lap, and said her bedtime prayers with her. I wanted that.
And while I did have a father, he wasn’t that kind of daddy.
My father didn’t drink every day, but when he did, it consumed him. A rage seemed to simmer just beneath the surface of his tough exterior, and alcohol brought it boiling over. When he drank, that anger spewed out like hot lava onto those around him. Unfortunately, my mother was most often the target.
As a child, many nights I crawled into bed, pulled the covers tightly under my chin—or even over my head—and prayed I would quickly fall asleep to escape the sounds of yelling, fighting, and hitting.
I was afraid of my father. Even when he was sober, I kept my distance.
At the same time, I watched other daddies cherish their little girls. I saw them cuddle their daughters in their laps, hold their hands while walking in the park, and kiss their cheeks as they dropped them off at school.
And while I wasn’t fatherless, I felt as though I was.
Deep in my heart, I carried a dream. I dreamed that one day I would have a daddy who loved me—not because I was pretty, made good grades, or played the piano well, but simply because I was his.
Then one day, I discovered that the Daddy I’d always wanted was the Father I’d had all along.
I discovered that I did have a Father who loved me . . . and so do you.
Your Heavenly Father loves you unconditionally, provides for you abundantly, and protects you faithfully.
In the New Testament, Jesus called God “Father” more than any other name. He also invites us to do the same.
Think about that for a moment. The God of the universe—the One 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, Father.
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how 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. . . . Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name . . .’” (Matthew 6:6–9, italics added)
Theologian J. I. Packer wrote:
“For everything that Christ taught, everything that makes the New Testament new and better than the Old, everything that is distinctly Christian . . . is summed up in the knowledge of the fatherhood of God.”
What a beautiful truth. The great I AM invites us into a relationship with Him. He welcomes us into His family and calls us His own. He says, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters” (2 Corinthians 6:18).
My friend Gayle has a granddaughter named Carlie. One day, Carlie and her best friend were sitting in the back seat of Gayle’s car. The two girls were born on the same day, their mothers were in neighboring hospital rooms, and they even lived in the same apartment complex.
But there was one significant difference.
Carlie’s friend had never known her father. Her mother had boyfriends who came and went over the years, but she had never experienced the love of a real dad.
When Gayle kept Carlie on weekends, her friend often came along. One day, as Gayle drove the girls on an errand, Carlie’s friend suddenly said, “I wish I had a daddy like you have a daddy.”
Carlie replied, “Oh, you do have a daddy.”
“No, I don’t,” the little girl answered. “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 glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the little girl throw up her hands in exasperation.
“Why has nobody ever told me this?”
How precious.
The moment we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, God adopts us into His family and we become His child.
I have a Daddy.
You have a Daddy.
God is your Father, and He loves you more than you could ever imagine. You are the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8).
The Father you’ve always wanted is the Father who has always wanted you.
Sit and soak in that love today.
Heavenly Father, O how I love You. Thank You for adopting me into Your family and making me Your child. Thank You for being the perfect Father who loves me unconditionally, cares for me faithfully, and provides for all my needs. I am so blessed to be Your child. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
How does this statement make you feel? God is your Father, and He loves you more than you could ever imagine. You are the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8). Leave a comment and let’s share.
Digging Deeper
Did you know that God has many names in the Bible? Each name reveals something distinct about His character and His ways. Father is just one of many. H
e is also El Roi-the God who sees me, Yaweh Rapha-the God who heals, and Yaweh Jireh-the God who provides. Want to know more? Knowing God by Name takes an in-depth look at 40 names of God and how knowing them helps you know Him. It also includes a study guide.
I also have a laminated prayer card filled front and back with name of God to use during your praise and prayer time! Check it out!
Comments 41
This has touch me deeply , bz we’ve. Thou I had a wonderful dad , him and my mom divorce while I was 2 years of age , it was the distraction of our home with my sister and brother mom and dad . They all took separated ways , I was taking to a home with strangers . Dad came around as often that he was able to, later he passed I was only 18 . Leaving empty ness in my life and heart . Is good to know God loves me !! And I’m his girl !!! Apple of his eyes thank you
Awed, treasured, grateful, blessed beyond measure..
I can totally relate to your childhood. I remember as a little girl wishing my daddy was like some of my friends daddy’s. So thankful for our Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally, always provides and never mistreats us in any way ❤️
Thank-you I had a Daddy that was much like yours and I felt the same way. I too am very grateful that I have a Heavenly Father that is everything I could ever wish for in a Father. Thank-you for this beautiful devotional that spoke to my heart. God bless you.
It makes me feel whole
Thank you for this reminder of how God is my Father and that He’s always been there and loved me, even when I didn’t know. My earthly father was pretty much like yours only worse. But when God showed me who He is to me, the Father I’ve always l9 ged for, it made a huge difference in my life.
Sharon, I could have written this post as it was my life too. I’m so grateful that God drew me and became the Father I always wanted and needed when I was 12 years old.
I grew up without an earthly father. I wish someone had showed me what this article says in my growing up years and my constant yearning for a father.
I feel for you, Nancy. Same here. It was much later in life that the pieces of my faith puzzle locked together to reveal this truth. May we be an example and encouragement to others around us. May we share this truth with younger ladies too.
I also grew up in a house like yours. Some mornings I got to wake up in my own bed other times I was at my great aunt’s house or the car. It was hard but now I know God had His hand on me.
What a great reminder! Thanks.
Thank you for this reminder of the loving father we have in God. My childhood was hard also. My Dad never lived on me and I got beat with belts or whatever else and I was always the one out there protecting my mom. I had to pull my dad’s hair one time to get him off her 😢 I felt like I was always trying to win my dad’s love and approval. My Dad didn’t drink but he was in Vietnam and came home changed. Thank you God for being the father we need. Thank you for your message , made me cry not because it hurt me but because it reminded me I have a father that loves me
There is an amazing documentary on the Angel channel that compliments this devotional beautifully. It is called He Calls Me Daughter. It talks about how those who were brought up in homes with unloving fathers have a difficult time connecting with God as their Father. But it comes full circle in how they realize the difference in how God infinitely loves them. It is definitely worth a watch.
And I was blessed beyond measure to have the Daddy everyone wanted! He was an amazing man who loved us deeply. I’ve never had an issue with the concept of GOD as Father because HE blessed me with such a good earthly father.
I lost my father when I was 9 yrs old. I knew him but I didn’t. He was distant and absent and when he was there he was abusive to my mother and us.
God is your Father, and He loves you more than you could ever imagine. You are the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8).
To kn0w that I am not fatherless and I am the apple of his eye gives me so much joy!
Thank you Sharon for this loving, timely message! My story is like yours and many of those that commented. Our daddy has been faithfully healing those wounds from my childhood and opening my eyes to experience the real father-daughter relationship with him.
I can relate to this about the “daddy” I always wanted! It took me 37 years to find this out! I am now 71 and knowing my REAL FATHER has been the Father I really needed!
I also had the same story!! I’m so grateful for my Heavenly Father…
It makes me feel safe, loved and secure!
Thank you Heavenly “Daddy”!
Beautiful message ❤️
I had a dad, but was not affectionate, i never seemed to do anything right or good enough…. Was not abusive, but I never felt accepted…. This article was wonderful, thank you…
Barb
Love this!!!
Thank you Abba Father!
My father also was an alcoholic. He was a good Dad when he was sober, taking us out for ice cream or to museums, or just rides. Whenever he had a cold (and he had a lot of colds) out came the Rock N Rye. When his back bothered him, it was the brandy. My sister and I were the ones he would either hug us so tight we would feel like he was breaking our ribs. I would say “Mom make him stop.” Mom would say “Joseph, stop hurting the girls” and go back to the kitchen. Dad would come over and I would think he was going to kiss me and he would bite my cheek. He would come over and yell in my ear “I love you!” I now need hearing aids. I always felt his love for me was conditional – like you – if I was better in math, if I was more athletic like my sister, etc. When I was 12, my Mom liked to watch Billy Graham crusades and I discovered I had a Father who loved me for who I was! I did not have to prove anything to Him. I remember wanting to go up to see Billy and saying the prayer but mouthing it with the others. I think by the time I was in Jr. High was when Dad had quit. I think Mom finally put her foot down.
He was a good Dad when he was sober, taking us out for ice cream or to museums, or just rides. Whenever he had a cold (and he had a lot of colds) out came the Rock N Rye. When his back bothered him, it was the brandy. My sister and I were the ones he would either hug us so tight we would feel like he was breaking our ribs. I would say “Mom make him stop.” Mom would say “Joseph, stop hurting the girls” and go back to the kitchen. Dad would come over and I would think he was going to kiss me and he would bite my cheek. He would come over and yell in my ear “I love you!” I now need hearing aids. I always felt his love for me was conditional – like you – if I was better in math, if I was more athletic like my sister, etc. When I was 12, my Mom liked to watch Billy Graham crusades and I discovered I had a Father who loved me for who I was! I did not have to prove anything to Him. I remember wanting to go up to see Billy and saying the prayer but mouthing it with the others. I think by the time I was in Jr. High was when Dad had quit. I think Mom finally put her foot down.
Whenever Dad had a cold (and he had a lot of colds) out came the Rock N Rye. When his back bothered him, it was the brandy. My sister and I were the ones he would torture, either hugging us so tight we would feel like he was breaking our ribs. I would say “Mom make him stop.” Mom would say “Joseph, stop hurting the girls” and go back to the kitchen. Dad would come over and I would think he was going to kiss me and he would bite my cheek. He would come over and yell in my ear “I love you!” I now need hearing aids. I always felt his love for me was conditional – like you – if I was better in math, if I was more athletic like my sister, etc. When I was 12, my Mom liked to watch Billy Graham crusades and I discovered I had a Father who loved me for who I was! I did not have to prove anything to Him. I remember wanting to go up to see Billy and saying the prayer but mouthing it with the others. I think by the time I was in Jr. High was when Dad had quit. I think Mom finally put her foot down. Thank God we reconciled years later. He had grown up in an orphanage and had anger issues.
I warmed my heart, & brought a smile to my face
I warmed my heart, & brought a smile to my face
I am an illegitimate child, I only see him on Sunday when I was young, I was 12 yrs old he passed away. No father and daughter bonding. My ABBA Father, Our Father in Heaven, my Lord my King, Protects me, I learned how to discipline myself, this is what I’m feeling, I’m 52 yrs old I realized what is the value of life..
Hello Sharon,
Great message Sharon, agreed. We are not always seen by our earthly Dad or able to grow in a solid foundation.
I am so glad, God is my re-fathered Dad. I am God’s daughter. We are so Blessed!! We are so Loved!!
Author
Yes we are.
I grew up with an abusive, alcoholic biological father. He beat my mom, and when my mom finally left him and was to remarry he gave up my siblings and myself so he didn’t have to pay child support! My step father adopted us and that seemed good, but he never loved us like the daughter that my mom and him shared! I felt like I always reminded my mom of her past! I tried so hard to feel loved! I made terrible choices to feel loved until one day after I was married and had children of my own, a friend of my husband led me to the lord! I still struggle with memories and feelings of inequality, but this reminds me of how much how Heavenly Father loves us!
Author
The devil wants to remind of of the past to keep us from fully enjoying the present. Your real dad is the one to be pitied. Think of all he missed out on!
“God loves us,” doesn’t comfort me sometimes. It can feel like a participation award: it’s his job to love me- after all, he loves everyone including Hitler and Judas.
But he loves me with rejoicing, not sadness. He loves me with smiles, and singing. Happy Father Day, here next Sunday.
Author
Think of it this way. Rather than a participation award, Jesus was your prize.
Thank you so much for this devotion. I’ve struggled with daddy pain my whole life. The enemy has used it to torment me. I have to encourage myself over and over that I’m chosen and accepted by God.
Author
Yes you are!
Through tears of joy I say Thank You Miss Sharon. I have never known an earthly father; the closest I had was my grandfather whom I called daddy. But I can honestly, I have felt the love and touch of my Father especially the latter of my seventy years. Thank you for the beautiful, truth and reminder.
Author
You are so welcome! You are loved!
I know GOD and believe in His Son Jesus as my Savior…. but even at my advanced age, I’d love to physically feel warm strong arms in a hug from my Daddy.
This is something I have always struggled to overcome in my relationship with God. My biological dad was distant, broken, and really not a great father. He was rarely there when I needed him and often left me to figure it out myself. I asked him why he assisted my step and half sisters so much and he said it was because he knew I could handle it on my own but I wanted his help! I logically know that God is the perfect father but my heart still goes back to the hurt my earthly father caused and it makes it hard to trust God. Deep in my heart I love God and know God loves me and I am His daughter but my earthly fears are stuck after over 50 years but I am working to change it. I am very thankful for my current stepfather who has been there for me for over 40 years, but my first stepfather was awful (although he did come through for me on a few occasions when my stepbrother asked him for help on my behalf) and I took a LONG time to trust the man who has been around and supportive for so long. God loves me more than all of them combined and I need to be reminded of that once in a while. Thank you for the reminder that God is the best father ever!
Sharon I had an earthly daddy, but he didn’t know how to be a loving father. I was afraid of my dad he never cuddled me or read to me. He just didn’t know how. I know I’ll see him, and I praise God that he adopted me into his family. What a great reminder.
My earthly father was a wonderful daddy. He was the daddy everyone would want. Every night I would crawl up in his lap and say “Daddy, I wuv you!” I am so thankful for him!! More thankful of the reminder that God is our loving Father who we can always trust and know he loves us unconditionally!!’ Thank you Sharon for the reminder that a lot of women did not have the wonderful dad I had but they do have the most amazing heavenly father ever!!