The Love of a Father

The Love of a Father

The other day, my oldest daughter, Abigail, woke up an hour or so after we had put her to bed and came into our room crying. I had just drifted off to sleep so when I was abruptly awoken, I was not that happy. I showed little patience or empathy to my daughter who was complaining about having a bad dream. I told her to go to bed and be a big girl and that there was nothing to fear. I’ll admit, it wasn’t my most shining parenting moment, but I was exhausted. She sheepishly lowered her head, softly sobbing, and returned to her room, hesitantly closing her door. After coming to a bit more, I began to regret my treatment of my daughter. I realized that she just wanted comfort.

I tiredly rolled out of bed and made my way to her room a few minutes later. I found her softly crying on her bed and my heart just melted. I felt really bad at this point. (Honestly, I’m a girl-dad through and through and she knows it!) So, I crawled up in bed right next to her, gave her a hug, told her I loved her, and that I was sorry for the way that I treated her. I told her once again there was nothing to fear and that she could go to sleep without a care in the world. And sure enough, we both drifted off to sleep without a peep. I woke up sometime later and returned to my own bed knowing that she would sleep fine the rest of the night.

A Going Away Present
I began to ponder this slight inconvenience for me and the genuine fear that my daughter experienced. I thought to myself that absolutely nothing changed for my daughter except for the fact that her dad was now with her. It was the same room, the same bed, the same stuffed animals, and the same blanket around her, but her dad was now here. My simple presence allowed her to feel comfortable in her unchanged environment. She knew that no monsters could get her. She knew that no bad dreams were going to come. She could finally have peace.

Jesus says to us in John 14:18-20, “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. In a little while, the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live you will live too. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you.” What a comforting truth! I can imagine the trepidation that the apostles must have felt knowing that Jesus was going to leave. They must have felt utterly unprepared to carry on Christ’s lofty mission of bringing His Kingdom to the world. In fact, we see it in the life of Peter.

In my personal quiet time, I am going through the book of Acts. I just recently read through chapter 2 where the Holy Spirit descends on the disciples giving them incredible boldness. Peter gives perhaps one of the most effective sermons that sees 3,000 people come to the Lord. Remember, just a few weeks earlier, Peter was straight up denying any association with Jesus due to fear. So, what changed? Obviously, God’s Spirit indwelling him made all the difference. Like my daughter, just the presence of Dad made all the difference!

Jesus goes on a few verses later in John 14 to say, “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful…I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me. On the contrary, so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do as the Father commanded me.” (John 14:25-27, 30-31).

What an amazing truth! Jesus was leaving but He was faithful to send His Holy Spirit to live in the lives of His disciples! That means you and me! John would later write in his epistle the corresponding truth to the reality spoken by Jesus, “You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world,” (1 John 4:4).

There are a lot of things in this world that believers have to deal with. Not only do we have to deal with the same secular woes of our fellow human beings, but we also understand the spiritual attacks that we must endure on a daily basis because of our faith in Christ. Let these words be of comfort to you in the coming days. I don’t know everything that is going on in your life. I know several people who are dealing with sickness, injuries, long travel, and other stresses of life. But the enemy does his best to use these things to distract you and keep you from God’s purpose for your life, to glorify Him.

Remember to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and the Lord will take care of all of your needs. Remember, you are in Christ and He is in you and He has overcome the world! Rember to boldly live out your faith! Remember to boldly share your faith even when the fear of rejection is present. Don’t be discouraged but be encouraged. Just like I was with my daughter and her fears subsided, remember your Father in Heaven is with you and you have nothing to fear!

May the Lord Bless you and Keep you,
Pastor Trenton