“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you” John 14:2
When I was about 4 years old, my father added a bedroom and bathroom on to the back of our house. I had three older sisters, and I guess I was getting big enough that my parents felt I needed a room of my own. So my father built an addition on to the house, and I had my own bedroom! A room far away from my sisters!! I knew that I had a physical place in my father’s house, but I was not sure I had a place in his heart.
Growing up, I never felt like I was wanted as a child. My mother always told me that she and my dad kept trying because my father wanted a boy. Yet my heart did not believe that. If my father wanted a boy so bad, why does he not play ball with me? Why does he not encourage me and take an interest in me? It wasn’t until a few months before my mom went to be with the Lord that she confessed to me that I was a surprise, they were not wanting another child. I knew my mother loved me and received me, but I was not so sure my father did. I knew he did outwardly because of responsibility, but I was not sure his heart really did. A few years after my mother passed away, my father asked my sisters and I to come to his home and go through boxes of pictures and others stuff and see what we wanted to do with them. During this process, I came across letters that my father and mother wrote to each other during college. In one of the letters, my mother wrote how she could not wait to get married to him and start on those five boys he wanted! When I read that, I broke into tears. My father did want a boy! The Lord provided proof to my heart in a way that could not be denied. My father may not have been able to show his love for me emotionally in the way that I needed, but I did have a place in his heart!
Many of our fathers were like this. One of our foundational needs as people is a place to belong. The first place we need, is a place in our father’s heart. Yet many of our fathers’ were not able to emotionally give this place to us. Jesus tells his disciples, and us here, that in his Father’s house are many rooms. And that He was going there to prepare a place for us. One of the important aspects of Christ’s death and resurrection is that now our Father makes his home in our hearts. Jesus reassures us in John 14:23 that we (the trinity) will come and make our home in the hearts of those who love God. The New Covenant is an internal work, not a set of external rules to follow. And, the Father’s house has plenty of room! Plenty of room for you! In fact, He has a special place for you! Because of Jesus, we have a place in the Father’s heart. I know I have a place! Do you?
Reflection:
- Do I have assurance in my heart that I have a place in God’s heart?
- How has my earthly father affected my perception of my Heavenly Father?
- Do I need to forgive my earthly father for not providing a safe place for me as a child?
Prayer:
Father, assure me of my place in your heart. I thank you for your love and care for me. Thank you, Jesus for your sacrifice on the cross, enabling me to be back in my Father’s arms. Amen
