A Prayer for Fathers..

Hello 👋 😁 & Welcome!

Today as we honor Father’s Day across the globe many find themselves in painful situations and difficult paths to overcome. Yet, this prayer is for fathers who have missed the mark and for that child who feels the void and emptiness. Perhaps, they started out hopeful and full of great potential and high expectations but somewhere a long the lines became discourage, indifferent and decided to walk away.

Leviticus 5:15-17

”One’s blindness does not excuse his guilt. The person is still guilty even though he did not know.“

Unintentionally, thankfully, includes more than one might think at first glance. It means, “To turn aside, to wander, to err, to make a mistake, to miss out. The person misses the real objective in life, which is to obey God and to be Holy as He is Holy.“

Romans 3:23, declares that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In other words, all have sinned in the past, and in the present all fall short in reflecting God’s love, which is a major part of His glory. Godly love does not have to grow cold for it to be shown imperfectly. It will be shown imperfectly when it is demonstrated by God’s still-imperfect children. We all are in this state and yet He loved us before we first loved Him.

Colossians 3:21

”Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.“

Maybe you have a father who failed you? One who let you down and wasn’t around or chased you away. Because God is our Father, He takes fatherhood seriously. It’s the role He created and lives out as our heavenly Father. Sadly, there are an estimated 24.7 million children under the age of 18 living without a father at home. There are a variety of reasons for this national fatherlessness. Culture isn’t offering many incentives for men to step up to be fathers, instead finding ways to discourage, displace, and devalue a father’s role in a child’s life. Sadly, some fathers walk away and turn their back on their kids, thinking they don’t matter or will never make a difference in their children’s lives. Some children grow up without a father because their mothers have shut them out of their kids’ lives. There are also women choosing single parenting over marriage by having babies via donors, and others creating homes with two moms. God doesn’t take this void lightly but fills it, caring deeply for the fatherless and encouraging them to look to Him as their Father to fulfill this role. As described in Psalm 68:5, “He becomes a Father to the fatherless.”

Failing Fathers:

Adult children often struggle with unforgiveness, anger, and disappointment towards imperfect fathers, along with severe abandonment issues, abuse, and absentee fathers. Likewise, grown individuals often struggle to move past their dad’s failures, weaknesses, and life choices that deeply affected and wounded them growing up. Imperfections range from a father who didn’t show affection or offer verbal affirmation to a dad who missed his kids’ major life events like sporting events, graduations, and much more. Yet Matthew 6:14, gives instruction that encourages, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, Your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Fathers Afraid to Come Back:

Television shows like “Long Lost Family” work to reunite estranged family members and reveal stories of fathers who are reluctant to reach out to their families, bound by shame and regret for their actions. As a result, many believe they don’t deserve a second chance or will be rejected if they try to reconnect. Although their lack of effort in contacting and restoring relationships is often seen as not caring about their families, the opposite is usually true. Many care very deeply. “It’s quite likely your father is aware of how he’s hurt you over the years. However, it’s likely he doesn’t know how to face it with you.” As adult children, I encourage sons and daughters to bring things up, not as accusations but as issues to discuss and forgive. “It will be something he will likely appreciate, and deeply so. He will also respect your strength and leadership in bringing it to the surface.” And in doing so, it will do a great deal in strengthening your relationship with your father and could lead to other healing conversations.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, God of all heaven and of all earth, it’s with a heavy heart that millions upon millions of adult children have grown up fatherless, and men have failed as fathers. Lord, so many fall short of Your plan for fathers to walk in Your ways and teach their children to love You. Help those Lord, to forgive their father for his failures and shortcomings and inner wounds that passes down from generation to generation. Lord, remove the wedge that has been created inside their heart and inside their life. I bind the entanglement, disappointment and entrapment of the enemy. I release your favor upon their lives. I ask for peace and reconciliation against disappointment after disappointment and delayed desires. I also ask You help these fathers to accept love as they receive forgiveness. Soften his heart, Lord, to turn towards you and embrace your unconditional love for them. Let that adult child know they were operating through their own pain and personal insecurities from their childhood. The greatest gift we can give is love as it covers a multitude of sin. Let them walk in the forgiveness You have so graciously given to all mankind. And help those fathers who have been hurt by their fathers and pour out your love over all those families standing in need of a miraculous miracle. Lord, bring healing and restoration into our relationships with mothers and daughters, fathers and mothers and even those who remain parents without partners. Lord, heal the wounds of the past and those who are willing to open their hearts and begin again. Give them strength, to move forward as the first step is the hardest and restore broken relationships. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen!

In His Grip,

Pastor Wendy Schenkel