Where Can I Find Peace?
Myth: If I Just Work Harder I'll Finally Be Good Enough
Jim has spent his entire lifetime
trying to get the blessing from his father.
No matter how hard Jim tries to please him,
his father always seems to find something to criticize.
According to his father,
Jim attended the wrong church,
married the wrong woman,
voted for the wrong candidates,
and choose the wrong career.
When Jim recently became a grandfather,
he decided that the expectations of his aging father
would destroy him if he did not find some peace.
With the help of a counselor,
Jim discovered that he has no control
over his father's expectations;
the only person Jim can change is himself.
Jim will probably never receive the blessing
of his earthly father,
but he has finally realized that his heavenly Father
loves him unconditionally.
Jim reinforces this reality
by marking scriptures about God's love.
When our earthly fathers fail to provide for us,
We have a Father in heaven who supplies our needs.
When our earthly fathers abandon us,
We have a Father in heaven who promises to never leave us.
When our earthly fathers use and abuse us,
We have a Father in heaven who collects our tears in a bottle.
When our earthly fathers don't spend time with us,
We have a Father in heaven
who sets aside a day every week to spend time with us.
When our earthly fathers break our hearts,
We have a Father in heaven who will wipe away our tears.
When our earthly fathers condemn us,
We have a Father in heaven who says,
"Neither do I condemn you!"
When our earthly fathers drive us to insomnia,
We have a Father in heaven who promises to give us rest.
When our earthly fathers fail to say "I love you,"
We have a Father in heaven who writes it
on the clouds of a sunset,
in the cool summer breeze,
inside a delicate flower,
across the starry night sky
and in an answered prayer.
But most important of all--He spelled out "I love you"
with the blood of His only Son.
While our earthly fathers caused us to run away from home,
We have a Father in Heaven
Who entices us to come home to Him.
He's watching and waiting to run to us with open arms.
