Dear Reader,
(In this letter your earthly father will begin with the small "f." Your heavenly Father will begin with a capital "F.")
We oftentimes project onto God the weaknesses and attributes we don't like about our fathers. This can cause us to avoid our Father, even though He is perfect. Then we miss out on the greatest relationship we could possibly ever know.
For example, having a mean father could cause you to think God is mean, so you avoid Him, and miss out. There are numerous weaknesses in our fathers, even the fathers that we have good relationships with and love very much. They are all imperfect, and can never completely fulfill the relationship needs we have. Some of our relationship needs can only be met by our Father.
Here's another example: Your father may rarely, if ever, tell you that he loves you. And you are rightfully hurt by this. You may not know anything about your Father and you, maybe even without knowing it, project the unloving attitude of your father onto your Father. Despite the fact that the Bible teaches that God is love (1 John 4:8), you wrongly see Him as unloving and avoid Him.
The best way to avoid projecting the weaknesses and faults of your father onto your Father is to get to know you Father firsthand. Read the Bible to see who He really is and how much He loves you. See the actions that He has taken to show you how much you mean to Him. Whether or not you have a healthy relationship with your father, you need, and can have, an amazing life-building relationship with you Father.
Here is a short list of your Father's characteristics. There are many more, so read the Bible to get to know Him better.
Sincerely,
Wes
(In this letter your earthly father will begin with the small "f." Your heavenly Father will begin with a capital "F.")
We oftentimes project onto God the weaknesses and attributes we don't like about our fathers. This can cause us to avoid our Father, even though He is perfect. Then we miss out on the greatest relationship we could possibly ever know.
For example, having a mean father could cause you to think God is mean, so you avoid Him, and miss out. There are numerous weaknesses in our fathers, even the fathers that we have good relationships with and love very much. They are all imperfect, and can never completely fulfill the relationship needs we have. Some of our relationship needs can only be met by our Father.
Here's another example: Your father may rarely, if ever, tell you that he loves you. And you are rightfully hurt by this. You may not know anything about your Father and you, maybe even without knowing it, project the unloving attitude of your father onto your Father. Despite the fact that the Bible teaches that God is love (1 John 4:8), you wrongly see Him as unloving and avoid Him.
The best way to avoid projecting the weaknesses and faults of your father onto your Father is to get to know you Father firsthand. Read the Bible to see who He really is and how much He loves you. See the actions that He has taken to show you how much you mean to Him. Whether or not you have a healthy relationship with your father, you need, and can have, an amazing life-building relationship with you Father.
Here is a short list of your Father's characteristics. There are many more, so read the Bible to get to know Him better.
- Not forgetful - Isaiah 49:15
- Slow to anger - Psalm 103:8-10
- Patient - 2 Peter 3:9
- Kind, merciful and gracious - Nehemiah 9:16-17
- Strong and gentle - Isaiah 40:10-11
- Disciplines us when necessary - Hebrews 12:5-11
- Energetic - Isaiah 40:28
- Empowering - Isaiah 40:29-31
- Forgiving - 1 John 1:9
- Immortal - 1 Timothy 6:15-16
- Able - Jeremiah 32:17,27
- Always present - Jeremiah 23:23-24; Acts 17:27
Sincerely,
Wes
