The Tenderness Of God – Part 3. God As Our Father

God, who made mankind in His image, created the roles of mothers and fathers, so that children would be nurtured and given a sense of belonging and self-esteem, and teach the same to their own children.  He must, therefore, embody all of these character traits – and more – Himself.  Imagine the most wonderful, caring, loving parents in the world, then multiply those attributes a thousand-fold, and you have only a glimpse of the loving-kindness of our God.  “As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear [are in awe of] Him” (Psalm 103:13) and "As a mother comforts her child,  so will I comfort you …” (Isaiah 66:13).

We know, though, that in this fallen world, adults are often unable to live up to this God-given blueprint of parenthood, but when we become Christians we are adopted into His family and we are told, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me” (Psalm 27:10).  He will take us up into His everlasting arms and nourish us with His total acceptance, mercy and grace.

Sometimes, though, we feel a little distanced from our Father God, because of something in our lives that is not worthy of Him (and it is never God who moves away, but us…).  When this occurs, we need only to confess our wrongdoing truthfully to Him and He will fully and joyfully receive us.  Think of a good parent, whose little child spills paint on a new carpet; he or she doesn’t react by banishing the child from the house for a week!  Ideally the child would be chastised, then given a hug of forgiveness.  So is God’s delight in His children; we are His  joy, and, by regularly confessing our wrongs and receiving His grace in forgiveness, it’s possible to be as close to Him as we wish to be.

Have you ever thought that God might actually enjoy your company?  I believe (and am awed by the fact) that He longs for us to spend time with Him, and patiently waits for this very thing; that His desire is to protect, nourish and inspire us, as well as to instruct us in His life-giving ways, leading us into wholeness, so that we can become who we were meant to be from the foundation of the world.   

Can you picture a loving father or mother, waiting to hear from a child who is living far away, watching for the postman each morning, hoping for news of them?  Like the father of the prodigal son who watched and waited for his child to return, and ran to meet him when he arrived, our God waits for the company of His children, and loves us to spend time with Him.  Sometimes, though, we are like teenagers who ring our parents with a quick ‘hello’ and a request for funds, tell of our hardships, say ‘bye’ and put the phone down before our loved ones have a chance to say anything, or to ask how we are!  God would like us to stay on the phone for a while, and have a conversation!  (God’s phone number – Jeremiah 33:3.  “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”) 

Provision for one’s children is part of a parent’s role.  If we lack something, we can ask God for help.  It will be no surprise to Him, since He knows our needs before we ask, and as the Word says: “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).  He will take care of your every need, (and our desires, too, if they are good for us), if you trust Him.  Jesus reminded us of the birds, who do nothing to earn their beautiful feathers and food supply, but God feeds and clothes them.  Will He not do more for us, His beloved children? 

For some, though, the Fatherhood of God is a difficult concept, because of childhood experiences of a father who was perhaps absent during their growing-up years, or who was quite unlike the father image expressed here.  God’s heart yearns for those ones to know the truth.  His own father-heart will find ways to bring healing to their hurtful memories, forgiveness for those who were unable to play their parental roles as they should have, and fullness of joy at the realisation by the ones who have suffered rejection, that they are loved and accepted by our Father God, and by the Christian church family. 

There is a place for the displaced, in the family of God.  People who have missed the warmth of a loving family should be able to find acceptance and real fellowship with their church family.  As Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” (Mark 3:34-35).  Ideally, too, there will be those who will play surrogate father / mother roles to those who are in need of such.  “God sets the solitary in families” (Psalm 68:6). 

The late American preacher Brent Rue, teaching on the fatherhood of God, used to say that God loves us children so much, that right now He is proudly showing photographs of us to the angels, saying, “That’s My son!  This is My daughter!  Aren’t they something?!”

Give God a call soon.  “He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you” (Isaiah 30:19).

* Suggested reading: Father Heart of God by Floyd McClung

Stay blessed and highly favoured

Cath Foley