Father’s Day is Difficult for Some People
If you have pain around the idea of God being a father because of your relationship with your biological dad, you need to hear some true things today.
I'm going to share with you a love letter, a message from God directly from his Word, just for you. (Adapted from YST069).
And the bottom line of the message is this:
You're special, and today is the day it's going to start being better.
(Note: The following is a letter, composed by God through the writers of the Bible. I have extracted these scriptures and listed them out below.)
My dear, beloved friend, my child,
I wanted to reach out to you, across time and space, to let you know how much I love you. I think about you all the time. Did you know you're the apple of my eye? (Psalm 17:8)
I know things are hard sometimes. But you're not alone. I'm always paying attention to you as you journey through your life. In fact, I feel your pain, and I keep all your tears in a little jar; so you're never far from the front of my mind, sweet friend. (Psalm 56:8)
I want you to know how special you are to me. Life on earth has a way of making you feel unimportant, lost, or overlooked. And our Enemy goes around like a lion, trying to hurt you. (I Peter 5:8)
He wants you to believe that the things you've done have separated you from me, that you're too far gone for me to love you or accept you. But that's a lie. In fact, everything he says is a lie and you shouldn't believe a word of it. (John 8:44)
But here's the truth:
I created you, breathed my life into you, and made you in my own image. (Genesis 2:7, Genesis 1:27). And I've been paying attention to you from eternity before you were born right up until this very moment. I knit you together with special care, I saw you inside your mother, and I know the whole story of your life (Psalm 139).
So you see, precious child, you matter to me. So don't worry so much, because I'm watching you. I've got your back. I know every hair on your head (Matthew 10:30), and I think you're awesome and perfect, because I made you just as I planned, just as I wanted, and making a person is a wonderful process. And no one is more wonderfully made in my image than you are (Psalm 139:14).
Now, I know life is hard. And I know there are things that hurt. But in the midst of that pain, don't let life's troubles make you feel like I'm far away. Because when you're the most scared or in the most pain, that's when I want to be closest to you (Psalm 34:18).
There are a lot of voices in your head, I know. Your brain is wired to think about things that hurt or scare you automatically. I made you that way, and it's for your own good, to keep you safe. But that negative bias in your brain can also harm you and steal your joy if you aren't careful. So it's important to remember that I made you to be joyful, and to have a fulfilled, abundant life (John 10:10).
And even though those voices are hardwired, you can overcome them by listening for mine. I'll tell you how to hear me.
First, my voice won't ever make you ashamed or afraid. Even when I correct you or my spirit convicts you of something you need to change or confess, it will come with a promise to help you, and you'll have a deep sense that my way is better than the way you've been doing things (John 16:8-16).
And, everything I tell you will be true. And I won't ever change my words to you, because I'm the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
So here's what I want you to do: in the midst of all the pain and the worry and the uncertainty of your life, start listening for my voice. Filter every voice that's scary, that makes you feel bad. Every voice that tells you you're not good enough or not smart enough or pretty enough or anything enough to succeed or for me to love you.
Because, my friend, you're exactly who and where and what I intended for you to be (Acts 17:26). And there is nothing you cannot overcome or accomplish if you use the power of me living inside you (Philippians 4:13).
Look, you're going to make mistakes, and you're never going to measure up to the perfect life of my son Jesus. But that's because he's the one-and-only (John 1:14). And guess what? I loved you so much that I sent him to save you (John 3:16-17). He didn't come to judge you- that's my job anyway- he came to save you. And if you're good enough for him, you're good enough for me.
Let's settle this right now. I've forgiven you, from eternity before you were born, for everything you have done or will do. I've removed your sins as far away as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12). And even though life and the world and your enemy can make you feel irredeemable or dirty, I've washed you white as snow if you believe in my son Jesus (Isaiah 1:18, Romans 10:18).
Here's the last thing I want to tell you, my beloved: I'll never stop loving you. I can't. I've got your name tattooed on the palm of my hand (Isaiah 49:16). No one can take you from the safety of my arms and the shelter of my love (John 10:28).
Do you believe me? I hope so, because I believe in you, my friend.
I love you, and I hope you'll talk to me soon.
Your Father.
There you go friend. That's the message I woke with today, from God to you.
Listen- life is hard. And it can beat us up and take us out if we let it. But God has a better way. Listening for his voice amidst all those negative thoughts and all the guilt and pain life can give us is THE BEST way to change your mind, the BEST kind of self brain surgery, and the only real way to become healthier, feel better and be happier in this life.
You can't change your life until you change your mind, and spiritual brain surgery is the most important change we need to make if we want to have the abundant life we were created to have.
You want to change your life? Read the love letter from God and believe it.
And start today.
Hey, my new book is releasing July 18! Click on the book cover below to pre-order.
Music by Tommy Walker
(Music shared on The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast is authorized under BMI license #61063253 and ASCAP license #400010513 )
Self-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe