Who’s Your Daddy?

Key verse

You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him. MATTHEW 7:9-11

The word “father” can mean so many different things for each individual. For some, it may bring memories of comfort, protection, and support. For others, feelings of loss, pain, or rejection. But when it comes to God the Father, I can’t help but think of these verses. As much as our relationships with our earthly fathers may differ, not one of us has had a truly perfect human father. People are imperfect and are bound to have shortcomings and make mistakes.

Most parents truly do want the best for their children. We want them to experience life more fully than we ever could, and we’d love to see their every dream fulfilled. Kids may not need every gift they ask for, but when it’s within our ability, what a joy it is to see them open the very thing they’ve longed for!

God feels this same pride and joy about His children to the nth degree. He has no limits to His love or to His ability to fulfill every need. God is perfect— all-knowing, all-powerful, and yet still all-loving.

He blesses His children like no one else could. But here’s the “catch”…Did you notice the contingency in the promise above? “How much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”

Does God already know what you need? Of course. Even my own kids don’t need to tell me what they want as they walk through the toy aisle; I can see what they love by the excitement in their eyes. (How much more can our Father, who knows every thought and desire of our heart, discern this?) Yet I still always tell my kids, “Don’t forget to tell me what you want the most, so I can be sure to remember that for your birthday!” Why? Because even though I may be the one to fulfill the gift, there’s incredible power in them recognizing, declaring, and believing for what they want most. God wants the same for you.

Prayer

Lord, help me see You more and more as the perfect Father You are. Replace my imperfect ideas of what a Father is for who You truly are. Restore my childlike faith so I can choose to trust in You, because I know that You are always good. Your plans are perfect and never failing. I thank You today for the gifts You’ve already given me, and I thank You in advance for all the good gifts to come. I choose to be vulnerable with You—to share my deepest desires with You, and trust that You won’t let them fall. Thank You, Father.