The Way Of BlessingSample

The Perfect Father

As a young man, even while I was conducting a publicly recognized and effective ministry, I had been torn inside. Even as I ministered the love of God to others, I struggled to believe that He loved me. I stood with others in comfortable faith that the Lord would heal them and answer their prayers, but I didn’t believe that He would hear my prayers for myself, only for others.

One of my secret dreams was to go to a truly remote area where I could shout loudly enough to God so that He could hear me. It doesn’t take a genius to guess that I had grown up with a father who was deaf to his children’s heart cries.

One of my most painful experiences of childhood revolved around broken promises. My father worked long hours and when he did come home he was too tired to talk or engage with us kids. To have his attention was a rare thing; to have his company was rarer still. I well remember my excitement when he told me that one summer’s evening he was going to take me to the playing field to play football. All through the day I trembled with anticipation; my Dad was going to play football with me. When he came home I was shaking with excitement. I sat impatiently whilst he ate his evening meal, drank tea and smoked his obligatory after-meal cigarette.

Then he picked up the newspaper and sat in his customary armchair as usual and read. In the end I wept with grief, anger and frustration. My mother took me into another room and tried to console me by saying that Dad was tired. But he had promised! From then on I knew that promises were not worth a lot and ignoring them was a good way of avoiding disappointment.

But my heavenly Father has filled His word with many promises that are ‘Yes!’ in Christ Jesus (see 2 Cor. 1:20). I may have to wait for their fulfillment. I might have to wait for a long time. His timing seems to run from a different timescale than mine. Yet I am not insecure or left in the lurch. What He promises will ultimately be fulfilled.

My father would see how we were enjoying a meal and when we had finished would ask whether we would like some more. Of course as children we would shout yes enthusiastically, to be immediately told that there was no more. Over time and repetition, we learned to expect that disappointment was normal, that what was offered wasn’t really there. My heavenly Father isn’t like that. With Him there is more than plentiful supply.

Those who look at Him will never be disappointed (Isa. 49:23). There is abundance, so much more than we could ever need. Therefore, we want to show grace and serve those we encounter with the abundance of favor that the Lord has prepared for them, too.

If, as you read this chapter, you are thinking that I have been describing the failure of my earthly father, you have missed the point. It is the contrast, the hope, joy and healing that I want to show. My father failed in so many ways, but he was fallen flesh, just like you and I. My God is the Father I always longed for. He’s truly amazing in every way.