When it's Hard

The Father's Love (Matt Redman)

"I have heard so many songs
Listened to a thousand tongues
But there is one, that sounds above them all
The Father's song, the Father's love
You sung it over me and for eternity
It's written on my heart."

Bonding between parent and child requires the child learning to trust their parents' hearts. It's learning that they have the best in mind for the child, that the love is stable and permanent and always present. Even when the lessons are tough to learn and the discipline is tough to take, the child needs to know that we will love them forever and that the discipline is for their good and that it does not last forever. It's hard to trust and bond. I imagine it feels like jumping off a cliff not knowing if you're really going to be caught...every...time...

From the parents' viewpoint, we can often feel that it takes so long! "Why can't the child just TRUST me?! When have I given anything but love? Have I not made available to this child everything I have and everything I am? Have I not been with this child 24/7 assuring him/her with my presence?"

Just when I think it's taking too long and they ought to have this down...and I cry out in the "hard places" to my Heavenly Father...I feel a gentle reminder...

That after all this time, I am still bonding to my Heavenly Father...

That He has the best in mind for me, that His love is stable and permanent and always present. That when the lessons are tough to learn and the discipline is tough to take, that I need to know that He will love me forever and that His discipline is for my good and that it does not last forever. It's hard to trust and bond. It feels like I am jumping off a cliff not knowing if  I am really going to be caught...every...time...

I remember... has God ever given me anything but love? Hasn't He been available to me and promised to give me everything He has and everything He is? And 24/7, does He not assure me with His presence?

"The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."

 ~Zephaniah 3:17