King David knew a thing or two about family strife and drama. In his distress, he included in Psalm 27 these words: “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” (Psalm 27:10) Even a king wasn’t immune from family conflict. To be received by the Lord was a huge source of comfort for the King of Israel.
One of the greatest gifts we receive as believers is to be grafted into the family of God. Upon taking the name of Jesus, some new believers find that their earthly families have rejected them. God, in His wisdom and compassion, has already made a way for the believer to find a home in the kindness and body of Christ. He brings seasoned men and women into our lives to become spiritual fathers and mothers to us – nurturing and discipling us. He brings brothers and sisters to journey alongside us in lives of faithfulness, obedience, and service. He brings little ones into our world to model pure joy and childlike trust. God fulfills our natural desire to belong with His supernatural provision of the Church. He heals hearts, meets needs, and satisfies our souls as we live among His people. He truly is a good Father.
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Father, because You made us in Your image, You created us to crave relationship and belonging. In this broken world, we don’t always get to experience those things within the context of earthly families. But in Your grace and kindness, You supply other members of the body to step in and fill some of those gaps – spiritual fathers, mothers, siblings, and children. While we ache for what the enemy has stolen from us, we rejoice in knowing that You promise to meet our every need and to heal the pain in our hearts. Holy Spirit, will You please prompt us to have eyes to see where we may have opportunity to be that much-needed father, mother, sister or brother to another? Give us motivation and means to be the blessing they’re looking for. Thank You, Jesus, for providing the way to becoming a part of God’s glorious family through the reconciliation You offered us by Your death on the cross. In Your beautiful Name, amen.
