Hey ya'll!
Welcome to November!
I don't have a personal story ready for you at the moment but I wanted to share something I read. When I saw it in my inbox the title Hope for the Fatherless immediately caught my attention. I had just been working on my last post, A Hug from My Fatherso the blog was on my mind and I immediately thought of sharing it. There were other things on my mind at the time though, so I put off reading it straight through for a little while.
I just recently went ahead and read it and it's so beautiful, people! It was written by an author and blogger who I respect and read often. Her name is Erin Davis and she has a different kind of 'Fatherless' story than I do (maybe more like yours) so I hope she can encourage you in a different way then I do.
Hope you're as encouraged as I was!
Here it is: http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/hope-for-the-fatherless/
Hugs are something I've missed about my Dad from the time of his first surgery. The fact that God is my heavenly father has always been an encouragement to me but there were times I felt resentment that a hug was the one thing God 'couldn't' give me directly.
There was something special about a hug from my Dad and I could have sought that from someone else in my life and I thought about that a lot but, along with being afraid, I felt convicted that God Himself was supposed to be my Father and satisfy every one of my needs. So what to do when I "just need a hug"? I thought about this a lot the week before Father's Day and found myself getting more and more angry and lonely. Then I decided to think about what my deeper needs were in wanting a hug. What did I think it would do for me? Heres what I found:
The times that I wanted a hug the most were times when I felt out of control and all I wanted was someone to hold me still, to comfort me, to protect me from everything, to let me know their focus was all on me, without me having to talk, to know that I am loved and that someone cares and is fully present with me.
Then I realized that God is and does all of that for me, all the time.
It was an amazing break-through for me, in understanding God's love and in being emotionally stable. It helped me not be so desperate for the attention of others but rather to find peace in God's presence in every situation.
I wish I had pretty words for you! God just totally opened my eyes over a period of like 4 of the hardest days I have had this year. He made me aware of his presence more fully when I was alone and when I hated that loneliness the most. And because of it I'm more aware of His presence even in a crowd of people or when I do have the attention of others that I crave.
Heres a verse for you on how God fulfills each of my desires when I "need a hug". Hope it encourages you too!
When you don't know how to explain
Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
(Psalm 139:4 ESV)
When you don't trust yourself
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
(Psalm 139:5 ESV)
When you are shaking with fear
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)
and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.
(Psalm 31:8 ESV)
When You feel lonely to the core
If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
(Psalm 139:8-10 ESV)
...And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20 ESV)
When you need to know that someone loves you
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16 ESV)
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39 ESV)
When you feel like no-one gets your struggle
I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul,
I've been thinking a lot about my Dad and my 'fatherless' state this past week as I've looked forward to Fathers day with mixed emotions. I have thoughts enough for several blog posts just from what I've learned this week and I might write them someday but today I'm going to try to hone in on one thing.
While Father's Day can be hard for those of us who don't have a great Father in our lives right now, I was reminded today that Father's Day was never supposed to be about the kids;
Father's Day is a day to celebrate and bless Father's. So if you don't have a human Dad to encourage today, or even if you do, let's make this a day to celebrate and worship God as our Heavenly Father!
I thought of the song 'Good, Good Father' on YouTube and found out that Anthem Lights just covered it like last week. It's beautiful so please listen and let the truth sink in, reminding you what a Good, Good Father God truly is! Then maybe sing along or pray, telling God 'thank you' for being your Father and for the other blessings he has given you.
I know (because I was there this week) that it can seem like there are things God can't really do for you that a human father could, but please trust me that God really is the best Dad you could ever have!
God is the only Father who is perfect and Ever-present.
Not only is He with you right now but He will literally be with you for all eternity.
Not Only will he never leave you forever, but He will never leave you for a moment.
Not Only does He want the best for you, but out of His glorious riches, He can give you the best.
Not Only is He strong, but He is stronger than anything you will ever face.
Not Only does He want to comfort you, but He always knows how.
Not Only does His sense of humor rock, but He created humor.
Not Only does He Love you, but he knows how to communicate that in your language.
Not Only does He want to spend time with you, but He is never too busy or overwhelmed to do it.
Well, I feel blessed now!
Praying for you today!
Love,
-L.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
(1 John 3:1-3 ESV)
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
(Galatians 4:6 ESV)
P.S. If you need more encouragement today I recommend listening to Britt Nicole. Her songs really encourage me through days like this!
"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
This brings an image to my mind of
holding tightly to my Daddy's strong hand, convinced that he was my only
hope of safety. I picture his dark hairy hand with a little lump on the wrist. I don't know
what the situation was. Maybe a scary rollercoaster ride or walking down a
sketchy street, down town at night, returning two cents to a grocery store clerk that one time, or waiting to audition for a play.
The point is that when I held my dad's hand I felt safe. I knew that he was with me and would protect me. So when this verse talks about God holding me by my hand I think of safety in the presence of one who is stronger than me.
Just dwell on that safety with me for a second.
If you are a Christian God is right there with you every moment! His Spirit is inside you. You have nothing to fear.
Now what about the rest of it? What does it mean for God to guide me with His counsel? Was this just for some special writer like David? No, some guy named Asaph wrote it and near the beginning of the psalm he admits that he was far from perfect! I'll be seeking God's guidance in teaching me to listen to him because it's been a little confusing so far.
For my thoughts on God's consistency check out my post 'My crazy summer: The Higher Rock' on Mystery of the Simplex. It tells how I came to love Gods forever-the-sameness last summer.
I could keep writing but really you should just go check out the rest of Psalm 73 because it's pretty awesome (though a little confusing).
I'll leave you with the final verse because it is so beautiful! I hope you will sit and think about it for a while!
-L.
But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
