In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 ESV

By: Scott Schuler

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your earthly father – your dad?

My dad has always been a good dad. No matter the circumstances our family may have been experiencing, I knew that my dad loved me and gave it his all. Like any one of us, my dad was not perfect and never claimed to be. But he did his best as a parent and always sought the best for me when I was a child. As adults our friendship and mutual respect is stronger than ever.

Unfortunately, not everyone has good memories of their earthly father because of difficult, painful or even tragic pasts.

We commonly attribute our view of our earthly father onto our relationship with God, our heavenly Father. If our experiences with our fathers were negative, then we may assign those same unfavorable characteristics to God. Because of this some view God the Father as a strict disciplinarian, quick to become angry and point out our failures. Others see Him as an absentee Father, no communication or affection and never there when we need Him!

In order to truly know the character of God, we must turn to the Bible to see how He is described, setting aside our past experiences and emotional baggage with our earthly father to know our heavenly Father.

The Bible describes God the Father as …

Faithful and will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Cor. 10:13).

Compassionate, loving and kind desiring relationship with us, all the time (Psalm 116:5).

Light and in Him there is no darkness. He is holy and pure, without sin (1 John 1:5).

Patient waiting for us to come to Him by turning from our sins to walk in His holiness (2 Peter 3:9).

Our provider of all good things desiring to take care of our every need (Matt. 6:26).

Perfect and complete and He protects all those who take refuge in Him (Psalm 18:30).

The true and living God all powerful and perfect in all His ways (Jer. 10:10).

When we consider these Truths about our heavenly Father, it opens our heart to the possibility of replacing the antagonism we may feel toward our earthly fathers with encouragement and hope. After all, they are human. Perhaps some of them were and are doing the best they can.

Each of us is a child of God, including our earthly father.

If we can look at our fathers from this perspective, it allows us to release prior struggles and disappointment to God. We can ask Him to free us from the bondage of unforgiveness.

In the beginning, God created … and He has been creating ever since turning ashes into beauty, severed relationships into loving harmony, and broken dreams into new visions. When we lift our eyes to our heavenly Father, who is the Alpha and Omega (Rev. 22:13) and is in control of heaven and earth and everything in between, we come to know Him as a Father – a Dad – who dearly loves each of us and desires the best for us.

Are you comparing your relationship with God the Father to your earthly father? Do you need to forgive your earthly father, so that your relationship with the Father will be made right and true?

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