"She Can't Speak To Her Father!" (Romans 8:1)

When I was about twelve years old, my father asked me to join him on a late night drive. This was distinctly unusual since it was 9 PM and my father was usually in bed by this time. I nervously agreed, fearing that he was going to reprimand me for something I had done. We drove a few miles to an unfamiliar neighborhood, pulling into the driveway of a darkened home. My father instructed me to wait in the car. He entered the home and did not return until about 20 minutes later. I sat alone in the dark, clueless over what was transpiring. My father then returned with a somber look on his face and we proceeded to return home.

During the return trip, he shared the burden that was obviously on his heart. “Do you remember Molly?”

I nodded slowly. “Yes, she used to work for you about 5 years ago. She was in high school.”

“Yes, that’s the one. She’s in trouble.”

Trouble?

“She has a boyfriend and she got pregnant. She can’t speak to her father about this.”

“Why not?” I naively asked.

“She’s afraid of him. She always knew that she could confide in me and that’s why she called me.”

She was obviously ashamed of her actions and did not think she could confide her hurt with her own family. I know if I had been in a similar situation, I may have felt the same way. Even though I was very close to my parents and loved them dearly, I never wanted my father or mother to be disappointed in me. But I did not have another adult that I could confide with the same confidence that this young woman had with my father.

Sadly, this young woman ended up getting an abortion. I later found out that my father attempted to convince her to continue with the pregnancy and put the baby up for adoption. He even offered to help her financially. But the pain and embarrassment were too much for her to handle at this stage in her life. She moved away and although my father made several attempts to contact her, he never heard from her again.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1 (ESV)

This young woman’s guilt overwhelmed her. Even though my father attempted to help her, she could not forgive herself nor could she confide in others.  Years later, I viscerally understood this pain and guilt. I harbored sins and dark secrets that damaged my relationships with others. I felt I had passed the point of no return and God would never forgive me for my sins. But God, in his mercy and grace, brought me back into a loving relationship with Him. He showed me there is no condemnation when I confess and repent of my sins to Jesus Christ. No sins, nothing will ever separate us from God. How can this be? By the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, all believers are forgiven of their sins and are adopted sons and daughters of God.

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Galatians 4:6-7 (ESV)

We have a heavenly Father who loves and accepts us as His own children. We have a Father to whom we have the privilege to confess anything to Him in prayer. We never have to be afraid to come to God with our problems, our fears, our embarrassments-anything we feel, any situation we encounter, God understands and can comfort us. And He will forgive us if we confess and repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

With Jesus as my Savior, I learned of a new relationship with God. He is my Father that I will never be afraid to share my burdens and fears. I can always speak to God, my Heavenly Father.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.