Recently several men had the chance to meet and reflect on how our earthly fathers have influenced our lives and faith – as well as the fathers and men we desire to be.
We long to lead our families with confidence, wisdom and the spiritual foundation of the Lord, but can’t help but feel compelled to insulate our loved ones from the world. We have these fears and worries that we are going to do something wrong, and we hope our kids don’t experience the same challenges and pain we may have had in our journeys. All the while, we wonder if we are doing this right. Are we becoming the men, fathers, sons and husbands we are being called to be?
While I am constantly challenged by competing narratives on what my identity should look like, I find that reflecting on God’s word cuts through all the clutter. God’s example of sending Jesus to the world where he wasn’t free from exposure to the things of the world, tells us we don’t need to be fearful. In the same way, Jesus prays to God in John 17 on behalf of His disciples that we may be sent into the world, though we do not belong to it, to reflect His love.
Even though we all were (and continue to be) shaped uniquely by our families and circumstances, God’s word unites us and brings clarity to our purpose. We can be content knowing that God is in control, and our job is to encourage, provide support, and love those in our lives.
– Chris Fehn