Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - No Substitute for a Daddy

Disney World. The Magic Kingdom. How can a four-year-old girl be a little cranky in that dream destination for kids her age? Our granddaughter had been having a great day there with her mom and her cousins while her daddy was busy in meetings. She'd done all the princess stuff she loves, she'd gotten the autographs of Disney characters she loves, she'd gone on rides she'd been looking forward to. But for some reason, by early afternoon she was just a little out of sorts. By that time, her dad was available, and he showed up to take her on some rides. And suddenly, it was like the clouds had blown away and the sun came out.

It's true of every one of us, even if our childhood is way behind us. And it doesn't matter how much of a "Magic Kingdom" a person's life becomes, there's still no substitute for a father. There's a spot in our heart and our life that was meant to be filled by a father. If you've been trusted by God with the awesome assignment of being a father, don't ever forget that there's nothing that can take your place in the life of your son or daughter - no matter how young or how old they are.

Maybe you're thinking about the hole you have in your life because of what your father never was for you. I call it the daddy deficit. There's a wonderful promise from God for you in Psalm 68:4-5 , "His name is the Lord...a father to the fatherless." And Psalm 10:14 declares that "You, O God...are the helper of the fatherless." God is already your Creator. He wants to be your Father - to love and care for you, not like the earthly father you had, but like the father you always wished you had.