My Heavenly Father

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” Romans 8:15 (NKJV) My father had a painful upbringing in his younger years. At eight years old, his parents separated, and his father found another woman. As a result, his mother and his siblings left our community, and he was given to another family to be raised by them. These painful events no doubt wounded his heart and soul and shaped his worldview in all things. Three things come to my mind: abandonment, love, self-worth. We all have experienced abandonment in one form or another. How would an eight-year-old boy understand or handle abandonment from his whole family? My heart aches for my dad when I think of all that he went through. And yet our Heavenly Father yearns to show love and care through His Son Jesus Christ. Maybe you struggle with abandonment from one of your parents. Run to the Father like the prodigal son ran back to his earthly dad (see Luke 15). Love can become distorted when there has been abandonment. “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” is one of my favorite songs. God the Father’s love for us is far reaching and can heal our wounded hearts through Christ. Our self-worth potentially takes a hit when abandonment and distorted love are part of our lives. What a wonderful discovery that our Heavenly Father sees us through His Son Jesus Christ, that we belong, and are adopted as sons and daughters through faith and repentance of sin. If you struggle with abandonment from your younger years through experiences and pain, God the Father waits to heal your whole heart and bring you to a place of resting in Him. Heavenly Father, would You lead me to healing in my heart and soul and to be at rest in You? Amen. — Frank Ward   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org