While my earthly father often seemed impossible to please, my heavenly Father seems eager to say to me, “Well done.” Not only is He willing to spend time with me, He’s also eager to do so, and went to incredible lengths that I might spend eternity living with Him in His place, with Him always there for me, and me always able to proudly serve under Him. It’s my privilege to worship Him, and call Him my Father.

I grew up with a dad who slept at home, but generally wasn’t there for me or my brother. He was a good provider, and I was proud of his extraordinary physical strength, but he didn’t come to my games or any school activities. I never had the experience of playing catch or going camping or fishing with him. He was a skilled mechanic, but didn’t take the time to teach me how to work with my hands. He was always off to work or when he was home, working on something else or reading the newspaper. Beyond telling me to do various chores, he rarely spoke to me, and I had little access to him. While my mom was always there and approachable, it seemed my father wasn’t interested in me.

Everyone is different, but what happened to me was that my earthly father’s absence made me all the more appreciative when I entered into a relationship with Jesus, and thereby into a relationship with my Father in Heaven. This Father loved me unconditionally, and despite His high expectations, He never told me to do anything that He didn’t give me the strength to do, and was quick to forgive me when I failed, which I often did.

I found God the Father 100% trustworthy, an infinitely powerful provider who created the universe itself, not only for His glory but also for my good, as His son. I believed Him to be, and do now more than ever, personally and genuinely interested in my life.

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