Father Figure

Being a father reminds me on many occasions about what being a child is. Yesterday at church, our Sr. Pastor Crawford Loritts considered part of a child's perspective*, and the comfort and confidence a child has in their father (or mother)—The bills are paid. There is gas in the car. Food is coming. There will be clean clothes. That most needs will be met—and that we should share the same confidence in our Heavenly Father.

In 1 John 2:13, the author writes "...I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. " We need to know the Father. And trust Him as the child described above does. Trusting that he is aware of our bills, the car, the food, the clothes. And will provide for us as we need.

As a grown(er) person, and somebody who has been in a growing relationship with our God for a while, I have seen many times where the bills make a borderline untimely payment, the car is filled one quarter tank at a time, we're hitting the pantry, and Macy's is surely not shopped.

Just as we want our kids to learn that there is hard work and patience required for our needs being met, often times God's desire has been for me to learn through a time of trial or want. And I have always seen my Father deliver. Not always as expected, or I even desired at the time, but in a sufficient (sometimes beyond sufficient) manner.

Now this is a perspective I don't keep daily. So often I try to take matters into my own hands and lose track of the relationship, wisdom and support I can receive from my Father each day. I need to remember who's roof I live under—and the price paid for me to live there.

*Certainly there are many children who don't share this exact perspective due to environmental circumstances, poverty, etc, but I believe the theory is the same, the vehicles of a father, or The Father's support may look different.