A Father’s Word
The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word, which he decreed long ago. (Lamentations 2:17a)
When I was nine years old, my father had promised me on a particular Saturday that he was going to go to the Western Auto Store and buy me a 36-inch Schwinn Tornado bicycle. It was 4:00 and he was taking a nap. And I told my mom, “Hey mom, the store's going to close at 5:00 and dad said he would do this.” She said, “Well, just go in there and wake him up.” I said, “You go wake him up.” She said, “No, he told you, you can tell him.”
Sure enough, I went in his room and gently nudged him. He rolled over and said, “What, man?” I reminded him of what he had said, and without any hesitation, he got up, got dressed, and we went down to Western Auto and I was given the promised bicycle. I rode my new bike behind his car all the way back home. He kept his word.
In the first ten years of my life, the one thing that I could count with my dad on was his word. He would not be able to sustain that later in life because my parents got divorced when I was 11 years old. I only saw him two more times after that before he passed away.
We all have different experiences when it comes to our earthly fathers. Maybe you don't have fond memories about your father keeping his word. It can be painful to bring up that subject. I understand that, but I should remind you that God is unlike any of our earthly fathers. God will always keep His word and He will always be consistent. He will always go the full journey with you.
So even if you didn’t have a healthy, strong relationship with your earthly father, my prayer is that you wouldn’t assume that your Heavenly Father is the same way. Dig into God’s Word and see what it has to say about your Heavenly Father. You’ll be amazed at how much more He loves you, cares for you, and stands by you than anyone else ever could.
When I was nine years old, my father had promised me on a particular Saturday that he was going to go to the Western Auto Store and buy me a 36-inch Schwinn Tornado bicycle. It was 4:00 and he was taking a nap. And I told my mom, “Hey mom, the store's going to close at 5:00 and dad said he would do this.” She said, “Well, just go in there and wake him up.” I said, “You go wake him up.” She said, “No, he told you, you can tell him.”
Sure enough, I went in his room and gently nudged him. He rolled over and said, “What, man?” I reminded him of what he had said, and without any hesitation, he got up, got dressed, and we went down to Western Auto and I was given the promised bicycle. I rode my new bike behind his car all the way back home. He kept his word.
In the first ten years of my life, the one thing that I could count with my dad on was his word. He would not be able to sustain that later in life because my parents got divorced when I was 11 years old. I only saw him two more times after that before he passed away.
We all have different experiences when it comes to our earthly fathers. Maybe you don't have fond memories about your father keeping his word. It can be painful to bring up that subject. I understand that, but I should remind you that God is unlike any of our earthly fathers. God will always keep His word and He will always be consistent. He will always go the full journey with you.
So even if you didn’t have a healthy, strong relationship with your earthly father, my prayer is that you wouldn’t assume that your Heavenly Father is the same way. Dig into God’s Word and see what it has to say about your Heavenly Father. You’ll be amazed at how much more He loves you, cares for you, and stands by you than anyone else ever could.
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3 Comments
I am sorry that you lost your father at such a young age but happy that you found your Heavenly Father. I lost my father when I was 8 years old. he died in WW 2 in a forest in Belgium. I, too, have rejoiced because I have a heavenly father
I know that my Heavenly Father loves me very much
Thank you Pastor Dobbs for sharing that story of your father keeping his word; I think that is so special. I believe parents for the most part do their best with what they have. I’m sorry too that you lost him at a young age and Vickie too losing her dad. . I do not have fond memories of my earthy father, but I too rejoice in my Heavenly Father who is full of love and mercy and I can trust Him to keep His Word.