The past few months the Lord has constantly been bringing me back to Ephesians. The book is so rich in teaching that at times it is overwhelming to even begin to dig into. However, while I was working a week or two ago, repeating over and over in my head was Eph. 1:3-5. Specifically:
Growing up, I never really received the attention and even love from my earthly father to help me understand God as a Father. For years, even hearing such a thing as "God being my Father" just made me angry. I felt that it would never make sense to me and that I would never have the understanding of this concept.
A short background of my life: I grew up most of my life with my dad not in the picture. At times, here and there, he would try, but brought constant disappointment.
I feel that we could all relate with having constant disappointment come up in our lives. Whether from our parents, siblings, mentors, or whomever. Living in a fallen world, there is bound to be things that will always let us down. We are humans that haven't fully received our inheritance.
The Lord told me to go back and look at each major disappointment from my past and to wait for Him to reveal to me where He was in the midst of it all. As I did, most of the major disappointments came up from my relationship between my dad and I. But then, I realized that in most of these, my step-dad stood up and tried his hardest to turn my disappointment into feeling supported. Yeah, he is human and we have had our rough times, but, as a whole he has been so kind by taking me in as his own and treating me as a father should treat his son.
I've been looking for a car the past few months as my car completely gave up on me. Not feeling like I was getting anywhere, my step-dad and I were able to connect on trying to get the best car for me. As he has seen how much I have been hurt by constant lies and broken promises, he has worked his hardest to support me and help me out. I finally get what it looks like to be loved and supported by a father.
As I look back toward my relationship with my step-dad I notice that he has adopted my sisters and I into his family as his own son and daughters. Overwhelmed by a multitude of emotions about how loved I am by my step-dad and my mom, the Lord continues to simply whisper in my ear "I love you even more! You have been adopted by ME! You are my son and you will NOT be disappointed in Me!"
Man! -
"adoption as sons".
Growing up, I never really received the attention and even love from my earthly father to help me understand God as a Father. For years, even hearing such a thing as "God being my Father" just made me angry. I felt that it would never make sense to me and that I would never have the understanding of this concept.
A short background of my life: I grew up most of my life with my dad not in the picture. At times, here and there, he would try, but brought constant disappointment.
I feel that we could all relate with having constant disappointment come up in our lives. Whether from our parents, siblings, mentors, or whomever. Living in a fallen world, there is bound to be things that will always let us down. We are humans that haven't fully received our inheritance.
The Lord told me to go back and look at each major disappointment from my past and to wait for Him to reveal to me where He was in the midst of it all. As I did, most of the major disappointments came up from my relationship between my dad and I. But then, I realized that in most of these, my step-dad stood up and tried his hardest to turn my disappointment into feeling supported. Yeah, he is human and we have had our rough times, but, as a whole he has been so kind by taking me in as his own and treating me as a father should treat his son.
I've been looking for a car the past few months as my car completely gave up on me. Not feeling like I was getting anywhere, my step-dad and I were able to connect on trying to get the best car for me. As he has seen how much I have been hurt by constant lies and broken promises, he has worked his hardest to support me and help me out. I finally get what it looks like to be loved and supported by a father.
As I look back toward my relationship with my step-dad I notice that he has adopted my sisters and I into his family as his own son and daughters. Overwhelmed by a multitude of emotions about how loved I am by my step-dad and my mom, the Lord continues to simply whisper in my ear "I love you even more! You have been adopted by ME! You are my son and you will NOT be disappointed in Me!"
Man! -
"...having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will."Seeing firsthand, adoption (whether legally or not) into a new family, I can now start to dig into this reality. Of course, we will have barriers in our path that the enemy will try to take us away from running into the righteous, eternal family. But, with a Father like the Lord, if we look to Him, He will keep us from danger. He will do WHATEVER it takes to keep us from getting hurt -physically AND emotionally! He guides us with His shepherd staff (Psalm 23).
He is a good Father and He LOVES us!
