The Bible calls Him God the Father. We are called His children and are encouraged to approach Him with the heart of a child, trusting unreservedly and expecting good things. Our earthly fathers are meant to be a reflection of our Father in Heaven.

I think back to when I was a small child. I remember looking up to my father. In my point of view, he was very tall and very big. I would cling to my father, staying very close, when I was frightened or unsure. He would take me with him to unknown places. We might be on the streets of town or in a grocery store, but I perceived many unknown dangers there. There were people I didn’t know. There were places I had never been and where I might get lost. As my father went about his business, sometimes I would have to run in order to stay close as he walked with his long strides. As soon as he stopped, I would grab hold of his pant leg reassuring myself of his presence and making sure he knew I was still there depending on him. I knew that any danger lurking in the area would see that I was with this big strong man – my father – and they would back away. I was very brave while I was standing there holding on to my father’s pant leg.

God the Father – our Heavenly Father is the perfect model of fatherhood. Psalm 91 says that we can live in His shelter. We can rest in His shadow. The psalmist says that God the Father is faithful. He does not change. He does not falter in His care. We can be sure that He will always be there when we call for Him. He is always stronger than the enemy – whether prowlers in the night, armies in the daylight, disease or natural disasters. He is always by our side to hold us up and keep us on our feet, never letting us get lost, protecting us by His presence.

You may not have had the benefit of a strong earthly father. Not every man is able to live up to this perfect model no matter how hard he tries. Men make mistakes and often fall short of the lofty calling of fatherhood. You may not have had a father at all, but you do have a Heavenly Father. The Bible promises that we all can look to God the Father for help in times of need. When we are frightened or unsure; when we're in unfamiliar places; when there are dangers looming around us, we can cling to His pant leg in unqualified trust and rest in the shadow of His great presence.