Our Daddy
“…and the glory of children is their father.” — Proverbs 17:6
Celebrating Father’s Day just a few weeks ago reminded me of the way young children often see their dads as superheroes. When I opened a picture my son had colored, a big golden trophy with “#1 Dad” proudly written across the front, I tried to see it through his eyes. I paused and thought back to when I was his age, trying to remember what it felt like to look at my own dad with that same wide-eyed admiration.
As a young six-year-old boy, I thought my dad was invincible! There was nothing he couldn’t do. I specifically remember sitting in awe one morning as I watched him rattle off 30 push-ups in a row with ease, convincing myself he would win The World’s Strongest Man competition if we could just get him there.
It then led me back to lunchroom conversations and playground chatter where many of us would boast about our dads to one another with such irrational confidence.
“My daddy can beat your daddy in basketball.”
“My daddy is strong enough to lift a car.”
“My daddy is faster than a cheetah.”
“My daddy is taller than a giant.”
“My daddy beat up a bear before.”
It didn’t matter that our claims had no truth or merit. What mattered was that we believed what we said and had faith that our daddy’s could actually do each of these things.
I can’t help but to laugh at the lack of filter and doubt we had as kids. It’s funny how bold we were. But what if we never outgrew that kind of faith? What if we thought about God with that same confidence and trust?
While our earthly fathers aren’t invincible in the way a six-year-old may think, here’s what our Heavenly Father can do:
Our Daddy can split the sea in half.
Our Daddy can shut the mouth of lions.
Our Daddy can speak and make the universe appear.
Our Daddy can feed thousands with five loaves and two fish.
Our Daddy can defeat armies with no weapons.
Our Daddy can make the sun stand still.
Our Daddy can control the wind and the waves.
Our Daddy can break chains and open prison doors.
Our Daddy can heal twelve years of sickness with a single touch.
Our Daddy can make blind eyes see for the first time.
Our Daddy can make dry bones live again.
Our Daddy can bring the dead back to life.
Our Daddy can do it all.
So often, we view God as the person we turn to when we need or want something. And being the gracious and giving Father that He is, He welcomes us with open arms.
But instead of running to Him with our next request, how many of us need to go back to being a small child and spend time sitting in awe and wonder at the “number of pushups” our Daddy can do? How many of us need to proudly boast about Him to the enemy and to our own doubts, worries, and fears?
When my son gave me the “#1 Dad” picture, I didn’t need it to be perfect. The colors didn’t really match, and he scribbled outside the lines more than once. I just loved that he believed it.
Our Heavenly Father feels the same way. He’s not asking us to impress him. He just wants us to trust Him and to see Him the way a child sees their daddy.
So today, the invitation isn’t to do anything other than to remember. Remember who your Father is. Remember what He has done. Remember that there is no such thing as irrational confidence when it comes to believing in what He can do.
Our Daddy really can do it all.
Celebrating Father’s Day just a few weeks ago reminded me of the way young children often see their dads as superheroes. When I opened a picture my son had colored, a big golden trophy with “#1 Dad” proudly written across the front, I tried to see it through his eyes. I paused and thought back to when I was his age, trying to remember what it felt like to look at my own dad with that same wide-eyed admiration.
As a young six-year-old boy, I thought my dad was invincible! There was nothing he couldn’t do. I specifically remember sitting in awe one morning as I watched him rattle off 30 push-ups in a row with ease, convincing myself he would win The World’s Strongest Man competition if we could just get him there.
It then led me back to lunchroom conversations and playground chatter where many of us would boast about our dads to one another with such irrational confidence.
“My daddy can beat your daddy in basketball.”
“My daddy is strong enough to lift a car.”
“My daddy is faster than a cheetah.”
“My daddy is taller than a giant.”
“My daddy beat up a bear before.”
It didn’t matter that our claims had no truth or merit. What mattered was that we believed what we said and had faith that our daddy’s could actually do each of these things.
I can’t help but to laugh at the lack of filter and doubt we had as kids. It’s funny how bold we were. But what if we never outgrew that kind of faith? What if we thought about God with that same confidence and trust?
While our earthly fathers aren’t invincible in the way a six-year-old may think, here’s what our Heavenly Father can do:
Our Daddy can split the sea in half.
Our Daddy can shut the mouth of lions.
Our Daddy can speak and make the universe appear.
Our Daddy can feed thousands with five loaves and two fish.
Our Daddy can defeat armies with no weapons.
Our Daddy can make the sun stand still.
Our Daddy can control the wind and the waves.
Our Daddy can break chains and open prison doors.
Our Daddy can heal twelve years of sickness with a single touch.
Our Daddy can make blind eyes see for the first time.
Our Daddy can make dry bones live again.
Our Daddy can bring the dead back to life.
Our Daddy can do it all.
So often, we view God as the person we turn to when we need or want something. And being the gracious and giving Father that He is, He welcomes us with open arms.
But instead of running to Him with our next request, how many of us need to go back to being a small child and spend time sitting in awe and wonder at the “number of pushups” our Daddy can do? How many of us need to proudly boast about Him to the enemy and to our own doubts, worries, and fears?
When my son gave me the “#1 Dad” picture, I didn’t need it to be perfect. The colors didn’t really match, and he scribbled outside the lines more than once. I just loved that he believed it.
Our Heavenly Father feels the same way. He’s not asking us to impress him. He just wants us to trust Him and to see Him the way a child sees their daddy.
So today, the invitation isn’t to do anything other than to remember. Remember who your Father is. Remember what He has done. Remember that there is no such thing as irrational confidence when it comes to believing in what He can do.
Our Daddy really can do it all.
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