The Father You’ve Always Wanted

I wanted a daddy who loved me—a daddy like my friend Wanda had.

He held her hand, sat her in his lap, and said her bedtime prayers with her. I wanted that.

And while I did have a father, he wasn’t that kind of daddy.

My father didn’t drink every day, but when he did, it consumed him. A rage seemed to simmer just beneath the surface of his tough exterior, and alcohol brought it boiling over. When he drank, that anger spewed out like hot lava onto those around him. Unfortunately, my mother was most often the target.

As a child, many nights I crawled into bed, pulled the covers tightly under my chin—or even over my head—and prayed I would quickly fall asleep to escape the sounds of yelling, fighting, and hitting.

I was afraid of my father. Even when he was sober, I kept my distance.

At the same time, I watched other daddies cherish their little girls. I saw them cuddle their daughters in their laps, hold their hands while walking in the park, and kiss their cheeks as they dropped them off at school.

And while I wasn’t fatherless, I felt as though I was.

Deep in my heart, I carried a dream. I dreamed that one day I would have a daddy who loved me—not because I was pretty, made good grades, or played the piano well, but simply because I was his.

Then one day, I discovered that the Daddy I’d always wanted was the Father I’d had all along.

I discovered that I did have a Father who loved me . . . and so do you.

Your Heavenly Father loves you unconditionally, provides for you abundantly, and protects you faithfully.

In the New Testament, Jesus called God “Father” more than any other name. He also invites us to do the same.

Think about that for a moment. The God of the universe—the One who created the heavens and the earth, who always has been and always will be, who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and present everywhere at once—that same God invites you to call Him Abba, Father.

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He said:

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. . . . Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name . . .’” (Matthew 6:6–9, italics added)

Theologian J. I. Packer wrote:

“For everything that Christ taught, everything that makes the New Testament new and better than the Old, everything that is distinctly Christian . . . is summed up in the knowledge of the fatherhood of God.”

What a beautiful truth. The great I AM invites us into a relationship with Him. He welcomes us into His family and calls us His own. He says, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters” (2 Corinthians 6:18).

My friend Gayle has a granddaughter named Carlie. One day, Carlie and her best friend were sitting in the back seat of Gayle’s car. The two girls were born on the same day, their mothers were in neighboring hospital rooms, and they even lived in the same apartment complex.

But there was one significant difference.

Carlie’s friend had never known her father. Her mother had boyfriends who came and went over the years, but she had never experienced the love of a real dad.

When Gayle kept Carlie on weekends, her friend often came along. One day, as Gayle drove the girls on an errand, Carlie’s friend suddenly said, “I wish I had a daddy like you have a daddy.”

Carlie replied, “Oh, you do have a daddy.”

“No, I don’t,” the little girl answered. “I want a daddy like you have a daddy. I wish I had a daddy.”

“But you do have a daddy,” Carlie insisted. “We all have a daddy. God is our Daddy. He’s everybody’s Daddy.”

Gayle glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the little girl throw up her hands in exasperation.

“Why has nobody ever told me this?”

How precious.

The moment we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, God adopts us into His family and we become His child.

I have a Daddy.

You have a Daddy.

God is your Father, and He loves you more than you could ever imagine. You are the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8).

The Father you’ve always wanted is the Father who has always wanted you.

Sit and soak in that love today.

Heavenly Father, O how I love You. Thank You for adopting me into Your family and making me Your child. Thank You for being the perfect Father who loves me unconditionally, cares for me faithfully, and provides for all my needs. I am so blessed to be Your child. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

How does this statement make you feel? God is your Father, and He loves you more than you could ever imagine. You are the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8). Leave a comment and let’s share.

Digging Deeper

Did you know that God has many names in the Bible? Each name reveals something distinct about His character and His ways. Father is just one of many. H

e is also El Roi-the God who sees me, Yaweh Rapha-the God who heals, and Yaweh Jireh-the God who provides. Want to know more? Knowing God by Name takes an in-depth look at 40 names of God and how knowing them helps you know Him. It also includes a study guide.

I also have a laminated prayer card filled front and back with name of God to use during your praise and prayer time! Check it out!