When Abba Steps In

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3–4

How do you feel on the third Sunday of June every year when all of America celebrates dads on Father’s Day or when you hear Chris Tomlin’s “Good, Good Father” on Christian radio? What feelings does the phrase “Your heavenly Father” evoke in you?

Do these questions bring to the surface emotions you’ve tried to suppress for years? Fear? Anger? Frustration? Sadness? Maybe your earthly father was a miserable human being. Maybe verbally abusive or even physically abusive. Maybe he was just downright mean.

Whether you want it to be or not, whether you acknowledge it or not, and whether you like it or not, your view of your heavenly Father is tremendously influenced by your relationship with your earthly father. If you perceive God as a mean old man with a long gray beard sitting up in the sky waiting to lay the hammer down on you, the odds say that your earthly father was a jerk. I hope and pray that he wasn’t, but tragically, this is often the case. What to do?

Turn to the only infallible source of truth—God’s Word! Please listen and apply the following truth to your heart and mind: When the feelings, emotions, or perceptions in your mind come into conflict with the Bible, the Bible wins the mental battle. Did you get that? I’m not trying to convince you that your feelings aren’t real. They are. Or that your emotions aren’t real? They are. However, feelings and emotions can deceive you, but God’s Word never will. It is the lighthouse that will always guide you in a straight line safely home.

So, what kind of image does Scripture paint about our heavenly Father? Peter says we are to cast our anxieties on Him because He cares about us (1 Peter 5:7); Paul, in Ephesians 1:3, that He blesses us with every imaginable spiritual blessing; John 3:16, that He “so loved the world”; the Psalmist, in Psalm 68:5, that He is a “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows”; Psalm 103:13 and Luke 15:20, that He is compassionate; James 1:17, that He showers us with perfect gifts; He promises us peace (Philippians 4:6-7); He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6); He is faithful (2 Timothy 2:13); He is immeasurably good (Psalm 34:8); He is merciful (Romans 9:15-16); and He is gracious, patient, and loving (Psalm 145:8). This is just a blip on the radar of how the Bible describes your heavenly Father.

2 Corinthians 1 paints a majestic image of Him as perfectly compassionate, empathetic, merciful, and consoling. He is the “Father of mercies” and the “God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). Paul continues this line of thought with the certainty that the Father comforts us no matter the trials and troubles we find ourselves in (1 Corinthians 1:4).

Yes, this is a magnificent promise to cling to, knowing that the Creator of the universe loves you so much that He wants to wrap His loving arms around you and whisper in your ear, “It's gonna be OK. I’ve got your back. You can lean on me; I’ve got big shoulders. I understand. I care.” However, there is another, maybe more significant, purpose for the relief His mercy and comfort provide. He comforts us “so that” we can reflect His compassion, His mercy, His love, and His comfort onto others (2 Corinthians 1:4).

How? There are several things you can weave into your life to apply the truths in this week’s passage to your daily walk with Christ. When you find yourself in a time of suffering, immediately entrust Him with your anxieties, give Him your burdens, ask Him to reveal Himself to you, and pray fervently for His peace. He promises it, so turn to Him in prayer. Open that Bible on your night table and dive in headfirst. Trust Him when He promises to be merciful, that He will shower you with mercy and comfort.

Use your story to encourage a friend who is experiencing a similar trial. Trust that God will use your story of His faithfulness in a mighty way to bring peace, comfort, and hope to your friend. When you allow the Lord to use you in this way, you are edified, your friend is encouraged and finds peace, and God is glorified.

Thank You, Lord, for the many times You have comforted me and walked with me through the tough times. Your hands have lifted me out of many pits of despair. Father God, I ask You to cross my path tomorrow with someone I can encourage and share my story of Your faithfulness with. In Jesus name, Amen.