What do John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe, Steve Jobs and Eleanor Roosevelt have in common? They were all orphans and yet they went on to achieve many things. Living with the knowledge of being an orphan has deep effects on a person’s psyche – to have feelings of rejection, insecurity, abandonment and poor self worth would be typical.
‘I’m trying to find myself. Sometimes that’s not easy’ – Marilyn Monroe
‘I’d always been insecure. Being the fourth of five kids means attention is divided five ways, and to do this equally is impossible. I grew up feeling like the little orphan in the family, the one who didn’t fit in’ – Suzi Quatro
There are many Christians who carry these same feelings as they have settled for ‘orphan living’ which is a tragedy when they are invited to call God ‘Father’. Instead of this most intimate relationship that God wants with us as Father and adopted child, orphan living leads to a need to find approval, affirmation, acceptance and encouragement elsewhere from others who will inevitably be unable to constantly meet those needs.
Jesus taught us to pray ‘Our Father’ – a radical step then and for many now to truly accept. After all, Jesus tells us that he came to make the Father known to us that we might be one with him (John 17:26).
Paul reminds us at length of our status as children of God, heirs indeed who can call God ‘Abba’ (Galatians 4:6-7).
‘How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!’ (1 John 3:1)
The question is, are you living in the unconditional love relationship with God as your heavenly Father or are you still seeking to fulfil your needs elsewhere? Orphan living is not what God intends for us – it is a Father’s heart that he has for us … and all that comes with it.
Comments