03.01. CHAPTER 01 - GOD IS YOUR FATHER
CHAPTER 01 - GOD IS YOUR FATHER “ I ascend to My Father and to your Father” (John 20:17).
While working as a doctor , I came across a number of women who used to abandon their babies in the hospital, if the babies were girls! The mothers would disappear without paying their bills. They were poor and they were disappointed to have borne girls, who they felt would only be a burden to them all their lives. The wretched dowry system in India causes so many problems, especially to poor girls, in every part of our country. Those mothers felt that their girl-babies would have the opportunity for a better life, if left in a Christian hospital or orphanage, than if they were taken back to their village. In an orphanage, perhaps some rich person may even adopt their girl! And there was less chance in a Christian orphanage, of their child being abused by men. In my surgical ward, there was a sweet, nameless, two year old girl, who never smiled, never spoke, hardly cried and even refused to eat. She was found at the gate of the hospital by a social worker. The girl seemed to be quite intelligent. But looking into her eyes filled with pathos, one could only imagine what horrors she had already faced in her brief earthly life. All of us who worked in that ward liked her and did our best to cheer her up. Usually such little girls were sent to some Christian orphanage. This one was my patient and so, when she recovered, some Christian friends and I arranged for her to be sent to a well-known Christian orphanage.
I used to enquire about her occasionally through the years and even prayed for her now and then. Then one day, more than 30 years later, I met her. She was now married and had children. But the very first question she asked me was: “Who are my parents?”
All through those 30 years, this question had haunted her. There was a vacuum in her heart that had longed for the love of a father and a mother – something that she had never received in the orphanage.
She had everything else that a woman would want – a good husband, children, education and even a good job. But there was still this ache in her heart that made her weep as soon as she met me.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t tell her who her parents were, for I didn’t know. But I could tell her of a loving Father in heaven who could be more to her than any earthly parent could ever be. She couldn’t however, bring herself to forgive her unknown parents for deserting her when she was a baby. I could see that those feelings of rejection were destroying her soul.
I can think of other girls who, even though they have parents, have not received from them the love and attention that they longed for. These girls too have grown up as insecure, lonely, unhappy individuals in a hard and cruel world. And then there are the girls from broken homes, and girls born to unwed mothers. Many, many girls facing such tragedies feel that their parents cannot understand them.
Many young girls come from backgrounds that are tragic, but all of them can find the security, love and care that they long for, if they come to the bosom of our heavenly Father. Do you hurt from memories of some abuse that you may have suffered in the past - perhaps a deep, secret hurt, which you cannot tell anyone? I met a girl once who had been sexually abused as a child. She felt so dirty, angry and robbed of her virginity that she could never trust any man. How relieved she was when I told her to look at the whole matter as “an accident” that happened to her - for which she was in no way responsible.
Jesus alone can heal every hurt and cleanse away the guilt and shame. He can help you to forgive the one who harmed you. Your experience can make you compassionate toward others who have suffered similarly - so that you can help them.
Perhaps you resent your strict parents and the restrictions that they imposed on you about your dress and conduct etc., Some girls at times feel like running away from their home to end their lives. But there is no girl whose future looks entirely negative. There is a silver lining in every dark cloud. So learn to think of the good things that can happen to you. Be thankful for the good things your parents did for you, so that you are alive today. God can help you to adjust to the difficulties and trials you are facing. So don’t ever give up hope.
Don’t envy the lot of those who seem to have a better deal in life. God did not make any mistake in the way He made you or in the environment that He planned for you. There are millions in the world whose lot is more sad than yours. You have much to be thankful for.
Perhaps you sinned and conceived a child before getting married. I know many girls, in such situations, who made the the right decision, to have their babies. Some kept their babies with them; others gave them away for adoption. But they did not kill their babies. And when they humbled themselves before God and repented, He gave them understanding husbands too. The Lord took away their guilt and shame. So you can trust God even in such dark times - even if others malign you. The Lord is waiting to receive you and offer you a new life.
Some time ago, we read in the newspapers in India of three sisters in a family (all of marriageable age) who together committed suicide, by hanging themselves in their bedroom. Their father had been unable to afford the large dowry that the parents of every boy was asking, if their son was to marry any of these girls - and the father was getting desperate and frustrated. They decided to put an end to their father’s misery by ending their own lives!! How tragic!
Perhaps you are facing a similar situation, where every marriage proposal that comes for you ends up being cancelled because of the large dowry demanded. Don’t get discouraged. God is your Father and He knows your need and cares for you. Marriage is not the greatest thing in the world. Fulfilling God’s plan for your life is. So dedicate yourself totally to God and seek to do His will alone in your life. And you will have a fulfilling life when you come to the end of it, whether you are married or not. Some of the greatest missionaries in the world have been unmarried women. Have you failed in some examination, even after trying your best? Do you feel that others do not sympathise with you? Does the devil make you feel that your whole life is a failure? Don’t entertain those demonic thoughts, for they can finally lead you to the point where you may try to end your life.
You can stop weeping, my sister. Your life need not come to a standstill just because you failed in one examination – or even in many examinations. Do those exams again. One day you will succeed. Never give up. And if you don’t pass, or don’t have the intelligence or the financial resources to study further, remember that God has chosen the poor and the weak of this world to shame the clever and the rich.
God loves you just as you are – whether you pass your examinations or not! He doesn’t look at your marks-card before accepting you!
Perhaps you have been disappointed in love! The one you had hoped to marry has now married someone else. And you weep - as all youngsters will do at such times. But if that young man married someone else, that only goes to prove that he was not in the will of God for you. God has someone better or something better for you – perhaps a single life of service to Him.
God allows many things in our lives to make Himself more precious to us than everything and everyone else in the world. Let Him then be the fairest of all on earth to you from now onwards. So to those who were forsaken by their parents, let me say: There is no need to find out why your parents abandoned you. You were not a mistake, for all your days were written in God’s book from eternal ages (Psalms 139:15-16).
You were chosen by God before He created the worlds (Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 1:11). You are not responsible for the mistakes of your parents.
You have pined long enough for a family. Rejoice now that you have a Heavenly Father Who wants to make you a part of His family. And remember: He never abandons His children.
He has loved you with an everlasting love and He has lavished that love on you. Picture yourself always as a child, safe in the loving arms of God your Father. You were created in His image and He longs to bless you and to be available to you always.
He is waiting to show you all that He has kept in store for you. One day He will take you to live in the mansion He has prepared for you - a far better place than any earthly house or inheritance. But you must accept His offer to become His child and be a part of His family. Then no one can wrench you out of His hand. So give your whole life to Him.
“As many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become the children of God even to those who believe in His Name”(John 1:12).
You can become a child of the heavenly Father if you admit that you are a sinner, accept the death of Jesus for your sins.
Repent of all your sins and forsake them – and He will cleanse you thoroughly in the blood that He shed for you.
Forgive all those who have wronged you - including your parents.
Don’t allow memories of the past to haunt you or condemn you.
You cannot fulfil God’s plan for your life, if you keep feeling condemned about your past.
You must put your past behind you once for all. Put your past under the blood of Jesus – and press on towards the future.
Jesus suffered and died not only to make you clean, but also to make you feel clean. When Christ comes into your life, you are justified before God. And God looks at you now, just as if you had never sinned in your entire life. Let the realisation of that fact bring joy to your heart - always.
Thus you, like many of us who did what I just wrote, will belong to the wonderful family of God . As you read the Bible, you will hear God speaking to your heart. And when you speak to Him in prayer, you will have the assurance that He hears from heaven and will answer you. The Father told Jesus once, “You are My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. One day He will call you His beloved child as well – one in whom He is well pleased. Do not weep any more.
You are not an orphan. You are the child of a King.
I read a letter some time ago, that beautifully expresses what I am trying to say. It was written by Barry Adams, who has very kindly given me permission to quote his inspired compilation here in full :
FATHER’S LOVE LETTER The words you are about to read are true.
They will change your life if you let them - for they come from the heart of God. He loves you. And He is the Father you’ve been looking for all your life. This is His love letter to you. My Child, You may not know Me, but I know everything about you (Psalms 139:1) I know when you sit down and when you rise up (Psalms 139:2) I am familiar with all your ways (Psalms 139:3) Even the very hairs on your head are numbered (Matthew 10:29-31) For you were made in My image (Genesis 1:27) In Me you live and move and have your being (Acts 17:28) For you are My offspring (Acts 17:28) I knew you even before you were conceived (Jeremiah 1:4-5) I chose you when I planned creation (Ephesians 1:11-12) You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in My book (Psalms 139:15-16) I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live(Acts 17:26) You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14) I knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalms 139:13) And brought you forth on the day you were born (Psalms 71:6) I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know Me (John 8:41-44) I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love (1 John 4:16) And it is My desire to lavish My love on you (1 John 3:1) Simply because you are My child and I am your Father (1 John 3:1) I offer you more than your earthly father ever could(Matthew 7:11) For I am the perfect Father (Matthew 5:48) Every good gift that you receive comes from My hand (James 1:17) For I am your provider and I meet all your need(Matthew 6:31-33) My plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11) Because I love you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore (Psalms 139:17-18) And I rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17) I will never stop doing good to you (Jeremiah 32:40) For you are My treasured possession (Exodus 19:5) I desire to establish you with all My heart and all My soul (Jeremiah 32:41) And I want to show you great and marvelous things (Jeremiah 33:3) If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me (Deuteronomy 4:29) Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart (Psalms 37:4) For it is I who gave you those desires (Php 2:13) I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine (Ephesians 3:20) For I am your greatest Encourager (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you (Psalms 34:18) As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to My heart (Isaiah 40:11) One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes(Revelation 21:3-4) And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth (Revelation 21:3-4) I am your Father, and I love you even as I love My Son, Jesus (John 17:23) For in Jesus, My love for you is revealed (John 17:26) He is the exact representation of My being (Hebrews 1:3) He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you (Romans 8:31) And to tell you that I am not counting your sins (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) His death was the ultimate expression of My love for you (1 John 4:10) I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love (Romans 8:31-32) If you receive the gift of My Son Jesus, you receive Me (1 John 2:23) And nothing will ever separate you from My love again (Romans 8:38-39) Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen (Luke 15:7) I have always been Father, and will always be Father (Ephesians 3:14-15) My question is, “Will you be My child?” (John 1:12-13) I am waiting for you.(Luke 15:11-32)
Love, Your Dad,
Almighty God.
(Copyright Barry Adams –1999) [ You can see “Father’s Love Letter” on the webpage: http://www.fathersloveletter.com ]