I am God’s beloved daughter.
“I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” -John 14, 18
“See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.
-John 3, 1
“And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
-2 Corinthians 6, 18
Believing that I am God’s beloved daughter has been one of my biggest struggles throughout my whole life. For such a long time, I believed that God was this supreme being living above, who knows about me, but who doesn’t truly know me. A God that punishes, imposes, reproaches, a God that is alienated from my reality and indifferent to my suffering. Seeing myself as God’s daughter required from me to recognize Him as a Father, as my Father. But, how would it be possible that God, an unreachable supreme being would be interested in me? And not just that, how would he know me deeply, seek for me unceasingly, and receive me with a tender Fatherly love? How would a serious, just, uninterested God would be so tender, so lovely, so comforter, so vulnerable?
Recognizing the image I had of God was the first step to unmask all the lies I had believed about him and labels I had put on him. But if God is a Father and God is my Father, I must be His daughter, I must belong to Him… I am His, but what does this even mean?
I still remember the first time that, after my mom passed away and having my father so far away, I felt like an orphan. Many times, we can go through life feeling like this—without a home, without parents, without someone to look out for us. But with all my heart, I want to tell you, my dear sister, that nothing could be further from the truth. You are not alone; you are not an orphan. You have a Father who seeks you tirelessly, who protects you fiercely, who provides for you, and who loves you with an endless love.
Being God’s beloved daughter is about embracing what has already been given to us and not about earning someone’s love. Being God’s beloved daughter means I can rest in the arms of someone who knows me. It means there is already someone providing for me, and I don’t need to rely solely on myself. Knowing myself as God’s beloved daughter means I have a Father who always protects me, always loves me, always waits for me, and always forgives me. Being God’s beloved daughter means I belong; I belong to the One who thought of me and formed me in my mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5), the One who created the seas and the sky, the One who holds the earth and my life in His hands. Knowing myself as His beloved daughter means being deeply seen, fully known, accepted, and chosen. Recognizing God as a Father means acknowledging that He knows what is best for me.
Wouldn’t a father do everything in his power to save his daughter? Wouldn’t he give his very own life to save her from death? If human love is capable of this, imagine the immense capacity of God’s love!
“What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?” -Luke 11, 11-13
God loves you deeply. He gave His very own life for your salvation. His death, a sacrifice of love, was an undeserved and selfless offering from the Father for you. God does not reproach you; instead, He asks with concern, “My daughter, where are you?” He is not distant from your reality. On the contrary:
“Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.” –Luke 12:7
He knows absolutely everything about you, and nothing shocks Him, nothing makes Him run away from you. Nothing in this world could ever make God love you less.
You are fully known by God. Rest in this truth.
You are deeply loved by the Father. Rest in this truth.
You belong to Him, you are His beloved daughter. Rest in this truth.
“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine.” -Isaiah 43, 1
Seeing God as a father can be a challenging thing. It requires us to not see him as we see our earthly father.
I am sorry if your father was physically or emotionally absent. I am sorry if your father was verbally, mentally, physically, or sexually abusive. I am sorry if your father was cold and indifferent. I am sorry if your father was easily angered. I am sorry if your father never told you that he loves you. I am so sorry if your father never helped you see the beauty and dignity you have. I am sorry if your father was not an example of real masculinity. My dear sister, today I tell you that God the Father is nothing like this, but the opposite. God is not abusive, he is safe. God is not easily angered, he is patient and merciful. God does not call you on your past but by name. God knows you, not just about you. He formed you. God is with you always, always, always. He suffers with you, he celebrates with you.
You are a beloved daughter. You are God’s beloved daughter and there is nothing in this life that will change this. Nothing.
