In these past two weeks without a dad, I’ve realized that for 22 years of my life, I completely missed out on the Father’s heart for me as His daughter.

Yesterday afternoon, I was processing something deeply painful that I’m walking through with a close friend and started sobbing uncontrollably. I felt unsafe. Scared. Hurt. Angry. Confused. Betrayed.

And the second she started praying for me, the Lord gave me a vision of the Father sitting next to me with His head on mine with tears streaming down His face and a deep sorrow in His spirit.

He said to me “Daughter, I see the victory in the end from this story, but I’m meeting you where you’re at right here, right now. I’m mourning with you. I’m aching with you. And I’m crying with you.” And in that moment, the statement “You’re not alone” had an entirely new meaning for me.

Many of us grew up with fathers who failed to represent the Heavenly Father to us in more ways than one, and sweet friend, I’m here to promise you that if they did, their heart was not a reflection of the Father’s.

In the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the son, after being away for some time satisfying desires of the flesh comes back home to his father after realizing what he had done, and says “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

And get this…

The Father says in response “Welcome home, my son. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.”

My friend, in the Father, there is no condemnation for being gone.
Only celebration for coming back.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

And dear friends, this… This right here is the reflection of the Father’s heart for our broken hearts and weary souls.

The Father of mercies and God of all comfort, comforts us in all our affliction… But only if we let Him. Our hearts cannot be comforted in something or someone that didn’t create it, and our flesh cannot be satisfied by something that won’t last in eternity.

The Father says to us today “My child, it’s okay to feel angry. It’s okay to feel disappointed. It’s okay to feel pain. Invite me in the midst of it, and I will make all things good in due time. Good things comes to those who wait.”

My sweet friend, I don’t know what your situation is. I don’t know where your heart’s at. But I do know that the Father’s heart is not just for you, but it is with you. He’s calling out with outstretched arms waiting for you to come home to Him and celebrate your homecoming, forgetting that you were even away because of His delight that you are back home with Him.

Only in the Father is hope found, joy restored, and shame defeated.

If your heart is hurting, rest knowing it’s safe in the One who created it. He’s taking care of it with gentleness, tenderness, and compassion. He is your protector. Your refuge. Your strong tower. Your safe place.

Take heart, sweet friend.
The hardest season of your life will become the most blessed if you run to the Father. He is closer than you know.

If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me. – Jeremiah 29:13