Our Father in Heaven

Life right now may look like the most peaceful scenario, with lots of self-care and a sense of hope on the horizon. For some, it may seem like the ground beneath you is ready to give way and you are holding on to whatever you can cling on to. For others, the intensity of pain and suffering could be experienced at its worst, the struggle is quite real and even quite difficult to put into words. In all these possibilities, what is happening in our physical, emotional, and spiritual life?

Not too long ago, I was dealing with the third situation described above, my suffering in silence season. I was so exhausted physically, emotionally, and did not even realize how it was impacting me spiritually. With no one to turn to (because words couldn’t console me and pity did not help whatsoever), I turned on YouTube to a sermon by Rev. Johnson Varghese, a pastor from Bethel, Bangalore, India. His message was titled, “Your pain and suffering will not be wasted.” Quite intrigued, I listened intently for some fresh fire to flow through.

Then it happened; I got one of the wisest pieces of advice I have gotten in all my years of being a Christian! “In suffering, in pain, do not make God your enemy; make God your best friend, let God be your strength, let God be your Heavenly Father.”

It was not the most mind-blowing thing I had ever heard. It was simple and straight-forward. I reacted like, “yeah, well, duh!” Rev. Varghese followed his statement saying, “the biggest mistake you could make during your time of pain is to turn away from God, because your greatest help is God.” Following my immediate reaction, I realized that maybe I already had my figurative fists raised up against God, wondering “Why me!? This is just not fair! I don’t want this. I’m ready to give up…” Taking a step back, I had to reevaluate what was going on. Here I was complaining to God about why I am, a “Daughter of Royalty,” someone who always said "yes" to Him, having to endure such hardship. 

We sing “Our Good Good Father” not realizing just how good our Heavenly Father actually is. A Good Father cares for us, loves us, is concerned about us, and is actually more invested in our lives than we could possibly be in ourselves. When we openly share with Him our thoughts, concerns, and hopes, He is the only one who could do something about it! Not only is this our expectation, but it is our inheritance as Kingdom Kind! 

As we know, Christianity is a relationship more than it is a religion. While religion holds its doctrines and creates order, the sustenance of Christlikeness in one’s individual life is held together by their personal relationship with God. That can look like so many different things: like God being the Father, Friend, and more than anything, it is the qualities of a relationship being enjoyed and cherished on a two-way street.

Being in a relationship with God does not look like a one-way street of prayer requests, rubbing the lamp violently hoping for all our wishes to get checked off the list (as the genie grants them and disappears afterward, leaving us to live out our random requests). Instead, when was the last time we asked God for His will to be done in our lives, what would He like our lives to look like, our dreams to be formed into, and our community to be like? Are our requests only tied to our own personal benefit?

There are BIG dreams He wants to put inside of you if you would only let him think it up for you. There are things He can only ask his children to carry out, because He knows the potential inside of you. Our personal dreaming and imagination capacity is nothing compared to what He has in store for us. So we limit ourselves to our little check boxes and lists, while there is so much more awaiting us – if we only let him.

Matthew 6:9-10 states, to "Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."

The Bible offers us Kingdom on Earth but are we asking for it? Are we waiting for revival to take place? Let us ask for revival like never before. Let us want the world to be filled with the Gospel, so sin does not have its hold anymore. To be one with God, in right standing as Sons and Daughters of the King, so we are able to feel what He feels, see what He sees, and more importantly, want what He wants for each other. Love like Jesus loves and be as Christlike as we possibly can! Knowing who we are and whose we are enables us to share in the reality of Heaven on Earth.

God is not only our Father, but best friend and only hope in times of trouble. He is with us during our seasons of hills and valleys and will never leave us! He is faithful, even when we are not. He is a good, good Father! This week, let us pray, refine our relationships with our Heavenly Father, ask Him to show us our true identities, what He purposes for us, and how He wills us to carry it out. Let His will take place in us!