Can you really understand God as Father if you don't have a loving father in your life? My friend, Daniel, and I were just discussing the other day the challenge of portraying the image of a caring, loving father in regards to God to someone whose father abandoned or abused or neglected them. How do you explain the steadfastness of a heavenly father to one whose earthly father walked out, disappeared because of divorce or even passed away tragically?
Some studies have shown that young ladies who grow up without a father in their life have a tendency to become promiscuous as they search for love. Some studies suggest that a young lady draws her self image or self esteem from her father, for good or bad. Other studies show that young men who feel rejected by their fathers have a tendency to develop greater effeminate characteristics or are more easily drawn into the world of homosexuality. They struggle with their own role as a young man and often shun their responsibilities.
Esther, as we see in this passage, grew up in an extremely difficult situation. Her parents either died or were sold into slavery when she was just a young child. She was raised in captivity in a foreign land as a virtual servant or a slave's existence. Yet, she was lucky. Her cousin adopted her and raised her as his own daughter.
If anyone had the right to be bitter, to hate the world and life, to feel abandoned, rejected, hopeless or helpless, it was Esther. If anyone had the right to distrust God as Father, she had it. Not a pleasant life or background to no fault of her own. But somehow she got past all of that and learned to love and trust God. She didn't let her experience of abandonment prevent her from experiencing a loving heavenly father.
God, there's a lot of hurt in this world. There are tons of young men and women, mature men and women, who have been neglected, abused, abandoned, belittled by their fathers. Some have never known what it's like to crawl up in their daddy's lap or to feel the loving embrace of a father's strong arms. Lord, I pray that, like Esther, people can put aside those rotten circumstances, those feelings of abandonment, rejection, neglect, distrust and discover your genuine, compassionate, love, power, protection and grace. Use me, God. Give me wisdom on how to portray your true nature.
1 comment:
There is so much hurt it's more important than ever for Christians to reflect the Father.
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