Episode Details

Our experiences with earthly fathers can shape the way we view God, but they do not define who He is. Where human relationships may have included inconsistency, disappointment, or conditional love, God reveals Himself as a Father who is faithful, approachable, and unchanging. His love is not based on our performance, accomplishments, or ability to measure up—it is rooted in His grace and what Christ has already accomplished for us.

Highlights:

• God invites His children to approach Him with confidence and receive His mercy and grace
• Our experiences with earthly fathers can influence how we view God, but Scripture reveals His true character
• God’s love is not earned through accomplishments or perfection—it is a gift of grace
• Through Jesus, we can come before God without fear of condemnation or rejection
• Our Heavenly Father is faithful, approachable, and always present in our time of need

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Full Transcript Below:

Approaching Our Father

By Cindi McMenamin

Bible Reading:
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 ESV).

Do you ever need help but hesitate to ask someone, unsure of what their response might be? The writer to the Hebrews must have known we would experience that type of hesitation when approaching God, and apparently wanted us to know that we can approach our Father God with confidence and find Him full of mercy and grace when we need help. 

This wasn’t an easy concept for me to grasp. Even though I grew up in church, learning about the love and forgiveness of my heavenly Father, I also believed I had to earn my earthly father’s love. I don’t often remember my dad saying “I love you,” but I do remember how pleased he was with my accomplishments, so I often heard him say, “I’m so proud of you.” Thus, it was ingrained in me that if I accomplished much and made him proud, that equated to his love for me. 

I also grew up fearing my dad’s reaction if I made a dent in a wall, left a scratch on our car, or broke something of value. I was especially fearful of bringing home a traffic ticket. I learned how to tiptoe around him a