Everlasting Father

Kelli Baker

Advent Series 2023

Day Seventeen

How are you tending to your emotional health during this holiday season? The Christmas season can be a difficult time for many. Social media displays beautiful depictions of harmonious families. However, that’s just it. These moments that flash across the timeline are just that… moments in time. The snapshots that people choose to display are the most polished and posed moments. What people aren’t revealing are the arguments or fights that happen behind closed doors because of unmet expectations.

We are made to feel as though we must be with family during the Christmas season. Unfortunately for many women, this means sacrificing your emotional and mental wellbeing. As women in the military, it means rearranging your entire block leave to accommodate travel and parties that ultimately bring upon anxiety and grief.

Jesus sees you.

Our earthly families are messy. We come from broken families because we are naturally broken people. But Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” The Heavenly Father has entrusted Jesus with the care of his children. When you place your trust in Jesus alone, there is no one who can take you out of his hands. Jesus says that as the Good Shepherd, his sheep know his voice. A shepherd defends, protects, and provides for his sheep. Jesus does that with his children. He takes his position as Everlasting Father seriously. He uses it to lead and guide his children and does so from a place of authority.

Whether you have a good relationship with your father here on earth or not, he will fall short of your expectations. He is human. Rather than wallow in your sorrow because of his shortcomings, run to Jesus.

What expectations have you set on your earthly father that you need to surrender to the Heavenly Father? I encourage you to take them to Jesus and let him care for you as the Everlasting Father.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to care for your children as the Everlasting Father. Remind us to set our eyes on you regardless of the status of our earthly relationships. Amen.