God doesn’t have to - He chooses to

“You have to say that, you’re my dad.”

It was the only fitting reply I had to his compliment. Because the boy at school had a completely different opinion of me. An unfavorable critique had effortlessly rolled off his arrogant jock-lips. Forget about winning Friday’s football game, now it seemed his goal was to crush my self-esteem and send me home in tears.

And it worked.

My dad reassured me it wasn’t the truth. That I shouldn’t give second thought to the opinion of one who didn’t love or care for me and who sure didn’t hold my best interest at heart.

But the thing was, I wanted this boy’s approval. I wanted him to view me in the same way my father did. Yet their views of me clearly stood in stark contrast. So who was actually telling me the truth?

Or was my dad just being nice?

On a dark, cold October night, years of my father’s affirmations rose to the surface as I wept on his couch, tossed and turned by the terrifying storm of my reality.

I came to realize he never once had to say a kind word about me. He wasn’t obligated to compliment me or build me up. He never had to support me, encourage me, or care for me. And he certainly wasn’t required to run into a raging hurricane to rescue me.

But he’d always told me he would. Because regardless of my underlying doubt, he never stopped reminding me that he loved me. That he would go to the ends of the earth for me. That he believed in me and would always defend me, protect me, help me, and fight for me.

Friends, there are voices out there, loud ones, that are fighting to possess your belief. To bend your ear, gain your full attention, and fill your heart and mind with opinions and deceit.

And I don’t know who you’re listening to right now. Who has been given access to your heart, who is manipulating your feelings. Whose attention and approval you’re desperately seeking to receive.

But I do know there is a God who intentionally, purposefully created you. A God whose love runs endlessly deep for you. Who always holds your best interest at heart and has a good plan for you.

One who will whisper life-giving truth to the aching recesses of your soul. Who will uphold your weary bones. Who will strengthen your feeble legs. Who promises to lead you by still waters and guide you down paths of righteousness. One who will never leave nor forsake you. Not because He has to.

But because He truly cares about you.

So listen to that voice.

To the voice of love.

To the voice of truth.

To the voice of the Father.

He will never lead you astray.