The Day I Became a Dad, These Verses Came Alive

The effectiveness of an illustration is only effective to the extent that one can identify with that illustration. There are many verses that illustrate God’s love as one of a father toward his children. I have always understood those verses, but I didn’t fully appreciate them until I became a father myself.

Suddenly, those illustrations weren’t just theological concepts, they became personal. Parenthood didn’t change the meaning of Scripture, but it did open my eyes to the depth of God’s attributes in ways I had never experienced before.

Here are six passages that I have come to appreciate more since becoming a dad.

The Father’s Compassion

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:13-14)

I always appreciated these verses, but the illustration of a father was always one that I understood second-hand. But the day I became a dad, I felt that compassion for the first time. Holding my infant daughter in my hands, my heart was immediately drawn to her. No one had to compel me to show compassion, and my child didn’t have to earn it.

These verses say that God’s compassion toward me is like that experience. It’s genuine. No one compels God toward this compassion, and I don’t have to earn it. In fact, it’s not my strength that draws out his compassion, it’s my weakness: “he remembers that we are dust.”

There is nothing robotic, cold or obligatory about his tender mercy toward his children. It’s a fatherly compassion. I easily forget that about God, but becoming a dad helped me appreciate it.

The Father’s Generosity

”Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9–11)

As a dad, I want what is best for my kids. I want to provide for them. I want their needs to be met. This illustration Jesus gives in Matthew is intentionally ridiculous. What kind of father would give his child a serpent if he asked for a fish? That’s cruel! But that’s the point.

I often doubt God’s generosity. I wonder why he has allowed certain things into my life. Does God really have my good in mind? Matthew 7:9-11 reveals just how ridiculous that doubt is.

If I, being evil, want what is best for my children, how much more does our heavenly Father give good things? Becoming a dad taught me that I should never doubt the generous heart of God.

The Father’s Discipline

”Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.” (Hebrews 12:9–10)

Discipline is a difficult but necessary part of parenting. As a child, I remember complaining about the discipline I received, convinced that my parents were trying to make my life more difficult. But now that I’m a dad, I understand the heart of love behind it.

Discipline isn’t cruelty, it’s care. I don’t correct my children because I love them less, but because I love them too much to leave them in harm’s way.

I struggle to see the chastening in my life as evidence of God’s love for me, but that’s exactly what it is. It’s easy to look at the trials we endure and convince ourselves that God is making our lives more difficult. But it’s exactly the opposite.

Human parents are imperfect in their discipline, but “He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.” Becoming a dad helped me understand God’s heart behind the trials he allows.

The Father’s Commitment

”But Zion said, ‘The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.’ ‘Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.’” (Isaiah 49:14–15)

I know these verses use the illustration of a mother, but becoming a dad still made these verses come alive to me. I got a front row seat to observe my wife’s tender care and commitment to our children. There is no stronger bond than the one between a mother and her child. The answer to the question posed in verse 15 is an obvious “no way!” How can a mother forget her own infant?

This illustration is in response to Zion’s complaint in verse 14, “my Lord has forgotten me.” And to this complaint, God responds, “That’s impossible.” Even if a mother did forget her nursing child, God would never forget his children. God’s commitment to you is greater than the strongest commitment we can imagine in this world. Don’t ever doubt that.

The Father’s Forgiveness

And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)

The story of the prodigal son takes on greater significance once you become a dad. No amount of betrayal or sin can stop a father’s deep yearning for his child’s repentance and restoration. In this story, God presents himself as a father who runs to his broken and weary child, offering forgiveness and restoration fully and freely.

There is not an ounce of hesitation in the Father’s love toward his sinful son. As a dad, I appreciate that more now.

Sometimes, when I go to God to seek forgiveness, I imagine him with his arms folded and stern look on his face as if to say, “Really? You’re asking forgiveness for this again?” That’s not the kind of father God is. He is drawn to us in our times of brokenness, arms wide open and filled with compassion.

God’s compassion, generosity, discipline, commitment, and forgiveness are attributes we often doubt or diminish in our own minds. But Scripture gives us illustrations to help us grasp the genuine love that God has for his children, and some of those illustrations take on greater significance when you can identify with them directly.

Parenthood hasn’t made me a perfect father, but it has given me a front row seat to the Father’s love. God reveals himself as the kind of Father our souls long for. The more I grow as a dad, the more I’m thankful that I get to call Him “Father.”