My Hero: Healing From Wounds of a FatherExemplo

Day 2 - Absence

In today’s society, one of the most common ways we’re hurt by our fathers is by their absence.

Some fathers left the picture before we were even born. Others left later on leaving us to question why. Some fathers are around physically but distant emotionally. Others are too busy with work and miss some of the most important moments when we need them. Some are in prison, and others have passed on.

While the circumstances of their absence might be different, the way in which we’re affected is common.

When our dads aren’t around, their absence causes us to deal with abandonment issues. It can lead us to wonder why they’re gone or if it’s our fault. We have a natural desire to be loved and accepted by our dads. It’s hard to feel either when they’re not around. We can get a low view of ourselves if we feel like we’ve been rejected by them.

Take some time to pray about any ways you have felt abandoned by your earthly father. Think about how it makes you feel and how it has affected you. Write them down and save them for tomorrow’s plan.

This is the area I relate to the most. I only saw my dad a handful of times until he passed away when I was 19. It took me a long time to process that, and I hope this devotional can speed up that healing for you.

Remember that God is a Father to the fatherless. When our earthly fathers aren’t around He is.