Seeing God as our loving Father may not come easily if we haven’t experienced a loving father figure in our lives. If our father wasn’t able or willing to provide for our needs when we were children, it can be really challenging to believe that God is going to provide for our needs now. But in order to move forward with God, we need to recognise that our internalised father-image is flawed and in no way fits our heavenly Father. Even the best earthly father is nowhere near as amazing as our heavenly Father. God wants us to see Him as a caring, sensitive, generous, dependable Father. That’s why Jesus taught us to call Him ‘Our Father’, not just ‘Almighty God and Lord’. Like a good father, God has anticipated our every need and provided for it (have a read of Matthew 6:25-34). Just as good parents understand the individual characteristics of their children, our heavenly Father knows our unique needs, thoughts, and feelings. ‘As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out’ (Psalm 103:13-14 MSG). And just as a good earthly father accepts and fulfils his responsibility to provide for his children, our heavenly Father holds Himself responsible for meeting our needs, and He wants us to trust that He will come through for us. Our role is to act like the child of a trustworthy, generous, permanently loving Father. It might feel easier said than done to fully trust Him and come with childlike faith. But when we look back and see the way He’s cared for us, and provided for our needs in the past, we’ll see that He’s a faithful and loving Father.

What Now?

Think of a time when God has provided for your needs, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Ask Him to help you trust that He will keep providing for you.