What’s Your Name for God?
by Marilyn Ehle
“’Abba, Father,’??? he said, “’everything is possible for you…’” (Mark 14:36)
Two brothers grew up in the same home with the same father. Unfortunately that father was both religious and harsh, and while he left his stamp on all the children of the family, the two youngest brothers reacted most vividly to their upbringing. One brother grew up to be a successful businessman with a genuinely caring personality. He loved his family and the world around him. He generously gave of his resources and time to people both near and far. He loved Jesus with both tenderness and resolve. When referring to his parent, he always called him “dad.???
The other brother, while also successful and surrounded by family and friends, can best be described as a good man who seriously doubts God’s love. Although a churchgoer, even now in his late 80s, he is openly resistant to the Person of Jesus. The most telling evidence of his father’s negative influence is that the word “dad??? is never used; in relating incidents from his childhood and youth, he always calls his male parent “father??? with a chilling distance.
Perhaps the name for God that produces both the deepest comfort and the grimmest perplexity is the word Jesus used while in the darkness of Gethsemane: Abba. Walter Wangerin, Jr. describes the scene this way: “…totally alone, swaying back and forth, his face in his hands… Suddenly he crumples to the ground. ‘Abba! Abba!’ The sound is strangled in his throat… He sucks air and howls at the top of his lungs… ‘I don’t want to drink the cup…Abba! Abba!’???
“Abba” in the Aramaic language is an intimate, colloquial word similar to the English “Daddy.??? But how could such a tender word be “howled???? Another writer says, “Reverence and the readiness to obey form the basis of Jesus’ understanding of His Father.??? Jesus knew He could trust His Father to be just and loving. So in the dark night of the soul, He could call Him “Daddy.???
Prayer: There are times when I long to call You “Daddy;??? I want to feel the comfort of Your loving arms; I need to be reminded that You care deeply for me; I want to trust You. But there are other times, while acknowledging You as my Father, I want to keep You at arm’s length. Teach me, dear Lord, more and more about Your Abba character.
About the Author: This devotional was written by Marilyn Ehle. Learn more about Marilyn: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/marilyn-ehle/
Going Deeper
1. Consider these questions: What keeps you from calling God “Abba???? How would your relationship with God change if you called him “Daddy???? This week call God “Daddy??? at least once each day. Record in your journal your feelings.
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I also grew up with an emotionally abusive father–who never said I love you or showed any interest in me or any affection. When I got saved, the wounds that my earthly father gave me kept me from going “boldly to the throne of grace.” Because of my upbringing, I held alot of guilt and shame, and felt like I just wasn’t good enough.
I kept myself from being free to know who Jesus really is–thinking that he wouldn’t like me–just like my father didn’t. Or I would try to work out my salvation through good deeds. The enemy, of course, kept me tormented for years of thinking that I was unlikable and unlovable. Finally, I took a leap of faith, and cried out to God (with my unlovable self) I took Him at his word at last–that he loves me-free and clear! The next day at my church, I was delivered from my past and could feel the Holy Spirit lifting my spirit up. It was amazing. I have never looked back. Jesus will never leave me or forsake me. I bask in His unconditional love. Peace.
Be Blessed!
As I read the responses, I began to reflect on when God was a daddy to me.
AS some of the other women that have responded, my father (he lived with us a nd provided for us)was an abusive father, belittling us, beating us, etc. So I didn’t have a good role model of a father.
But one day, I began to learn that Abba, Father loved me as a daughter.
I was in the church, unhappily married and beginning to enter into an affiar with a fellow church member.
One day, the church member cmeto me taht he was awakened three different times (twice he got up walkled around, ate and went back to sleep) during the night by the voice of God telling him, “Touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm”.
He (the guy)came to me and told me what happened and that he had never heard the voice of God before and he didn’t know what I had going on with the Lord, but WoW! God really had it for me!
It was that day I knew God protected me like a father would cover his child to prevent injury or a fall.
I knew I had to turn to the Lord to show me what a father is really like. ( Because my earthly example was so poor) I also pray that the Lord would cause my husband to be a father like Him for my daughter to avoid the problems I had experienced growing up and desperately needed when choosing a mate. I had to learn to not compare my Daddy, Abba Father, with my earthly Father and forgive him (my earthly father) too because he didn’t have a good example either.
I cringe when people pray, “Father God” too many times. I grew up in an abusive home and for me, keeping God at a distance was a premium. While we are closer, I am still not certain how much of a Father I want in God. But that is slowly changing.
Heather
This devotional was so touching @ this time in my life, my heart has been so heavy and as always my Father has held it together. I find it easy and wonderful to have God as my Father and fine a serenity in calling him Abba Father. The comments that have been shared have been very enlightening. I do find it hard to call my Father daddy though. The reason being my earthy daddy was not there for me growing up and lived in the same city as I and I always had to still address him as daddy. Therefore I feel you can call anyone daddy but Father for me is sacred. My Father has always been there for me and has never forsaken me. I love him with my entire being and He is everything to me. Thanks for you all sharing and please keep me in your prayers.
This devotional brought tears to my eyes as I was reassured ‘again’ of God’s love for His children.It’s when life gets realy tough and when there are so many demands on me that I miss my mum and dad. Sometimes I long to be a little girl again.I long to talk things over with them, aks for their help and advice.I want them to do all the things they use to do for me.
God has reassured me of His love for me. He has reassured me that He cares for me, is there for me just as my mum amd dad were there for me. Thank-you again Father for reminding us just how near You are to Your children.
Hi everyone,
For me when I think of God our Father as Abba Father, I am reminded of an image that came to me while my kids were playing at a park long ago. They were at the very top of a very twisty slide. They could not see the bottom and were a bit afraid, but I called out to them and explained that I was there at the bottom to catch them. Even though my kids could not see me, they heard my voice and just trusted me and slid right down. ( Okay:) I realize that I’m mommy not daddy, but the image did come to me at the time:) I often think of Abba as a loving father who helps you climb the ladders of life and even when you can’t see him at the bottom, when things are at the end of a twisty turmoil He is Abba waiting there to always catch us. And then, help us right back up those ladders of life.
Reva
This is a great discussion. It has always been easy for me to say Abba Father and I think of Him as my Daddy. My earthly Daddy died when I was 11 years old and he was a wonderful one. When I pray, I usually start Dear Heavenly Father, my Abba Father. I feel so close to Him through prayer and listening to Him.
Angela, I will be praying for you as you go through your struggles. Just hold onto Him because He is holding onto you. May He bless you with strength and comfort. Hold onto your Faith. God is so great and so faithful and it would be hard to live in this world without a close ralationship with Him. Because of a physical limitation, it has allowed me to become closer to Him. Maybe that is why I have it, because maybe I needed to be closer. God Bless you all, Hannah
There are such strong images associated with names.
Leslie — when I read your comment about trying to reconcile strength and tenderness it reminded me of a line from a poem “strength by gentleness confined”. For me it’s the idea of God as a gentleman, He could coerce us, He could overcome us with His strength but He chooses not to do that, never to do that. He comes by invitation, He draws near in the context of relationship. He is always present, never forceful. Strong and tender in the way He uses that strength with us — we’re so fragile.
I was not close to my father while growing up. He was away from home a lot. When I was saved at eleven years old, I never have had a problem calling him father. I tell him,”You are my father, mother brother sister friend. In other words he is everything to me. People disappoint you but he never does. We know that he wants what is best for us so we can put our trust in him.
I wish I had that kind of relationship with God. I can call him Father and I believe he loves me as a father. Yet I have so many fears and walls up. I had 3 “dads” growing up, each treating me worse than the other, each betraying and abandoning me. I had to call them dad. So calling God that only makes things worse. How I long to really believe that God is trustworthy as a dad, that he won’t give me stone for bread, or a snake for fish, that in the end he will always be there, always love me and mostly I long to be able to rest in that love, to not feel afraid or having to stay alert, just in case. God is faithful, he keeps loving me and being my father, and I am aware of his presence, even as I struggle.
I have fought with the idea of God as “daddy”. For some odd reason I cannot easily equate tenderness with strength. My earthly daddy was a giving and dependable provider – that’s how he showed his love. He was faithful.
In recent years, health has taken some nasty turns for me, but my God has remained faithful, as expected. But what is amazing is that through my frustration and despair, when I have arrived at the end of all I am and can do, there has always been a quiet tenderness. For me it is a tiny hope, an undeniable conviction that I do not suffer alone. At these times, if I can quiet my thoughts and breathe in the promises that God, Himself, has proven true to me – I can sense it. It is a safe haven of knowing that I am protected and provided for, but most of all that I am so incredibly loved. I think that is the moment I know my all-powerful, everlasting God as “daddy”. They are rare moments – but I cherish them with all my heart.
It is so easy for me to call him Father. My biological Father was distant and a poor communicator and not a good father…very harsh always. But I have learned to love and trust my heavenly Father through his word from where he speaks to me and communicates with me. I communicate back to him through prayer and He listens and aswers me. I love my Father soooo much,… and he first loved me. I have an awesome Father whom I can trust and depend on. Praise His Holy name!!