FATHER TO THE FATHERLESS
06th Sep 2023
Psalm 68:5 says, “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Proverbs 3:12 says, “For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.”
I received Jesus Christ as my Saviour at 11 years old. My parents divorced when I was 4 years old. I had contact with my earthly father; but practically I was not receiving a father’s love and care. He was not available to train or correct me, and in reality I was pretty wild and undisciplined.
When I received Jesus as my Saviour, God revealed himself as the Father I needed and He told me, “I will be your Father, I will love you and never leave you, but I will not be soft with you. I will train and correct you as you walk with me.”
Very soon I learned that I could do things that displeased Him; and if I wanted His presence and love, I had to deal with sin very quickly. I learned to confess what I had done wrong, to receive forgiveness, to forgive myself and move on.
However, I had an enormous challenge to forgive the man my mother was in a relationship with, especially as he had no desire to have me living with my mum, and would have married her if I could be sent back to the family home under my natural father’s authority. This was not possible, so I indulged my resentment and hatred towards him, and in so doing lost the peace and presence of my Father God.
When I asked why I had lost this peace, God showed me I needed to forgive and explained it was an act of my will. I was thinking I could never like this man and felt quite justified in hating him and in reality being cheeky and rude.
God’s way of correction shows you the problem and always gives you a way of escape, so you can be obedient and choose to please the Father who knows best and is training you, growing you up to be obedient. I thought I had to have good feelings toward this man, but Father God said to me, “It’s your will you need to exercise and obedience is very precious to Me.” So I chose to forgive and my inner peace was restored; Father God’s presence once again became real and personal, and joy returned.
Human fathers have responsibility to correct, train and encourage their offspring to grow up, take responsibility and change. Our Heavenly Father has the same responsibility toward us His earthly children. He loves, but corrects; He encourages, yet challenges; He asks us to do things outside our comfort zone, He teaches us to trust His word, written and internally whispered. He wants us to learn faith, and as we exercise faith, He challenges us to become greater and learn that “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
God’s love is wonderful, so is His correction, He is intimately caring for you and desires you to become mature and Christlike.
Still lots to learn!
by Joyce Sibthorpe
