A Glimpse of Our Father: A 5-Day Devotional Plan for All of God’s ChildrenSample

A Glimpse of Our Father’s Presence

I heard screaming and crying as my husband carried her in through the door. After running outside, my child had fallen and scraped her knee on the concrete. The quarter-sized abrasion was bloody, and as the blood streamed, so did the tears. Then, I whispered, “everything will be okay,” and proceeded to get the antibiotic ointment, wet towel, and band-aid. As I cleaned her wound, my daughter tearfully said, “ouch, Momma, it hurts!” I hurt as she hurt. I didn’t like seeing my baby girl injured and in pain, yet I had to clean her wound, place the healing ointment on, and bandage her knee.

Once she was patched up, we sat on the couch, and I allowed her to prop up her leg. Periodically she’d cry out, “it hurrrrrts!” I held her hand and let her know that I understood and everything would be okay. I also had to encourage her to stop trying to touch the bandage, making the pain worse.

This interaction beautifully reflects our role as God’s children and our Father. Sometimes we fall. We get hurt. That’s part of life. We try to escape pain, but many times the pain is inescapable.

Nevertheless, our Father reminds us that He is with us through our hurt and pain. He is also the healing balm for the cuts, bruises, and scrapes we get along the way. God is there to hold our hands. He is present to remind us to let the wounds heal and not agitate them by taking the bandage off too soon.

Psalm 23:4 reminds us that He walks through the valley of the shadow of death with us. We are also reminded that even though we are God’s children, tribulations and trials come; nevertheless, the exciting part is, as John 16:33 states, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Our Heavenly Father is a peace giver, comforter, and overcomer. He is a healer and companion through all our pain.

Reflect & Relate

Reflect on times you felt hurt, wounded, or broken and thought you were alone. Conversely, think about times you felt your heavenly Father’s presence through hurt and pain. How has He comforted you, and what makes His presence valuable?