Pastor Sabrina Slimmer
Keymar Evangelical Wesleyan Church
(6/1) Father’s Day is a day many of us mark with joy. It’s a time to fire up the grill, send a heartfelt card, and honor the men who have guided us with strength, gentleness, and wisdom. Yet, for others, it’s a day that carries a different kind of weight. Perhaps it brings bittersweet memories of a dad who’s no longer here. Maybe it stirs pain from wounds left by a father who was absent, distant, or even harmful.
Whatever your experience has been, one truth brings hope and healing: we all have access to a perfect, loving Father—the One who created us, knows us intimately, and never fails us.
The Bible tells us in Psalm 68:5, "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling." These words describe God’s character. He does not turn a blind eye to our pain. He steps into the broken spaces of our lives with strength, comfort, and the kind of love that brings restoration.
Let’s be honest—earthly fathers, like all people, are flawed. Some do their best with the tools they were given. They show up, support their families, provide guidance, and leave a legacy of faith and character. If that’s your experience, give thanks. You’ve seen a glimpse of God’s heart through your father’s love, protection, and presence.
But for many others, the word "father" may feel loaded. You may have grown up in a home where your dad was more of a shadow than a shepherd. Perhaps your childhood was filled with unanswered questions, unmet needs, or the sting of being overlooked or misunderstood. Fatherlessness isn’t always about physical absence—it can be emotional, spiritual, or relational.
Yet here is the beautiful truth: our identity and security are not ultimately rooted in our earthly fathers. They are grounded in our heavenly father.
God is not just another version of our dads—He is altogether different. He is holy, just, and all-powerful. But He is also tender, compassionate, and full of mercy. He knows our past, yet He still draws us near. He knows our weaknesses, yet He calls us his children. He is patient when we fall, generous when we ask, and faithful when we fail.
The apostle John wrote in 1 John 3:1, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" That word lavished speaks of abundance—overflowing love, poured out not because we earned it, but because He delights in us.
Jesus, the Son of God, introduced us to this divine relationship when He taught His disciples to pray, saying, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name" (Matthew 6:9). That simple phrase, "Our Father," revolutionized the way people saw God. He is not a distant ruler but a personal Father who longs for relationship with His children.
If you carry the ache of father wounds, you're not alone. Even some of the greatest heroes of the faith carried pain from their families. David, the shepherd-king, was overlooked by his father Jesse when the prophet Samuel came to anoint a new king. Joseph was rejected by his brothers and left for dead. Even Jesus was misunderstood by His earthly family during His ministry.
But none of that disqualified them from God's purposes. In fact, God often uses our pain to draw us closer to Him and to show the world what healing and redemption look like.
Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." On Father’s Day, that verse rings especially true. If you are hurting today—emotionally, spiritually, relationally—know that your heavenly Father is near. He doesn’t ask you to clean up before coming to Him. He meets you in the mess and walks with you toward wholeness.
To all the dads reading this—your role is sacred. Whether you are a biological father, a stepfather, an adoptive father, or a spiritual father—your presence matters. The words you speak (or don’t speak), the example you live, and the time you give are shaping a future generation.
Proverbs 20:7 says, "The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them." The impact of a godly father cannot be overstated. It’s found in bedtime prayers, patient discipline, shared bibles, and intentional moments of love. You are pointing your children to a Father who will never leave them, even when you’re no longer able to walk beside them.
Maybe you feel like you’ve failed. Maybe you wish you could rewrite chapters of your fatherhood story. Here’s the good news: God’s grace is bigger than our regrets. It’s never too late to love better, speak life, and lead your family toward Jesus.
This Father’s Day, whether you are honoring a great dad, mourning a loss, or lamenting what was missing—may you look to the One who never changes. God, our Heavenly Father, is consistent in a world of inconsistency. He is faithful in a world of failure. He is near in a world that often feels distant and disconnected.
And maybe today, you can do something more than reflect. Maybe you can become a reflection of that Fatherly love for someone else. Is there a child who needs a mentor? Is there a neighbor who needs a kind word or a visit? Is there someone in your own family who needs to hear, "I’m proud of you. I love you. I’m here for you"?
You can be the vessel through which God's fatherly love is poured out. Not because you’re perfect—but because He is.
The story of the Bible is not primarily about rules, religion, or ritual. It is a love story. A Father pursuing His children, calling them home, and welcoming them with open arms.
In Luke 15, Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son—a young man who squandered his inheritance and returned home expecting judgment. Instead, the father ran to him, embraced him, and threw a celebration. That’s the heart of our Heavenly Father. He runs to meet us when we take even one step toward Him.
So if you’ve wandered, return. If you’ve doubted, come close. If you’ve been hurt, let Him heal. You are not forgotten. You are not disqualified. You are not unloved. You are a child of the most high God.
To learn more about Keymar Wesleyan Chuch visit them at www.keymarwesleyan.org or better yet, join them for Sunday service at 1011 Francis Scott Key Hwy, Keymar
