The Impact of Fatherhood on Our View of God

Our minds can be transformed to learn the truth of our heavenly Father’s unconditional love, even if our earthly fathers hurt us.

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
(Romans 12:1–2)

Imagine a young girl who longs for her father’s love and approval but never hears the words “I love you.” This absence can deeply shape her sense of worth, leading her to believe that love must be earned, not freely given. Many of us carry similar wounds from our earthly fathers, whether through neglect, abandonment, or emotional distance, and these experiences can distort how we view ourselves and how we relate to our heavenly Father.

Romans 12:1–2 calls you to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” When our thinking is shaped by the pain and rejection of our earthly fathers, it can influence how we perceive God’s love. We may struggle to accept the truth that we are fully loved and accepted by God just as we are. This disconnect can lead to feelings of inadequacy, shame, or the belief that we must earn God’s approval just as we once tried to earn our father’s love.

The “father vacuum” left by an absent or distant father often leads us to seek validation in unhealthy ways—compromising our values, building emotional walls, or believing that God is waiting to punish us. But 1 John 3:1 reminds us, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” God’s love is not based on our performance; it’s freely given, secure, and unchanging.

Healing begins when we allow God’s truth to transform our thinking. As we replace lies with His truth, we begin to embrace our identity as His beloved children. This process takes time, but as we learn to exchange old thinking for new thinking, the truth of God’s Word breaks down the strongholds that have held us captive. We learn to live and love from a place of grace, not fear, experiencing the freedom and joy that comes with being fully accepted by our heavenly Father.

Listen to the sermon: The Daughter Factor

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Ministry Update from Mark

A few weeks ago on a Saturday, we paused to honor and celebrate the life of my wife’s brother, Donald Marquez. Twenty years ago, at the age of 47, he was tragically shot and killed after a 17-minute gun battle in Chicago. Family, friends, fellow police officers, and many others gathered at Gold Star Families Memorial and Park in Chicago to remember his legacy. Thank you, Donald, for making the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect a city that desperately needs the hope of Christ.