our daily bread
Dexu Xia
The Perfect Father
Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Psalm 27:10
Standing in the crowded store aisle, I struggled to find the perfect Father’s Day card. Although we had reconciled after years of a strained connection, I had never felt close to my dad.
The woman next to me groaned and shoved the card she’d been reading back into the display. “Why can’t they make cards for people who don’t have good relationships with their fathers, but are trying to do the right thing?”
She stormed off before I could respond, so I prayed for her. Thanking God for affirming only He could be a perfect Father, I asked Him to strengthen my relationship with my dad.
I long for deeper intimacy with my heavenly Father too. I want David’s confidence in God’s constant presence, power, and protection (Psalm 27:1–6).
When David cried out for help, he expected God’s answers (vv. 7–9). Though earthly parents could reject, abandon, or neglect their children, David declared God’s unconditional acceptance (v. 10). He lived with assurance in the Lord’s goodness (vv. 11–13). Like most of us, David sometimes struggled, but the Holy Spirit helped him persevere in trust and dependence on the Lord (v. 14).
We will encounter difficult relationships on this side of eternity. But even when people fall short, fail us, or hurt us, we’re still completely loved and protected by the only Perfect Father.
Lord, thank You for being a Father we can always count on.
God—the Perfect Father—will never let us down, leave us, or stop loving us.
完美的父亲
我父母离弃我，耶和华必收留我。-诗篇27篇10节
我站在商店里拥挤的走道上，努力地想要找到一张最合适的父亲节卡片。虽然我和父亲多年来紧绷的关系早已缓解，但我还是从不觉得自己和他亲近。站在我身旁的女士把手中的卡片重新塞回架上，喃喃地抱怨着：“为什么就没有设计一些适合的卡片，给那些和父亲的关系不好，但试着和解的人呢？”我想要对她说一些话，但她早已气冲冲地离开，所以我只能为她祷告。感谢上帝，让我知道只有祂才是完美的父亲，我恳求祂坚固我和我父亲之间的关系。
我也渴望和天父有更紧密的连结。我想要像大卫一样，完全信靠上帝时刻的同在、能力和保护（诗篇27篇1-6节）。
当大卫呼求上帝帮助时，他知道上帝必会回应（7-9节）。虽然这世上有些父母会排斥、抛弃，或忽略他们的孩子，大卫却明白上帝无条件接纳我们（10节），他活在上帝的恩惠中（11-13节）。大卫和我们一样，有时也会痛苦挣扎，但圣灵帮助他凭信心忍耐，并全心倚靠上帝（14节）。
在世上，我们都会在人际关系上碰到困难，但即使别人让我们失望，或是辜负、伤害我们，那位唯一且完美的天父，依旧全然爱着我们并保守我们。
亲爱的主，感谢祢成为我们永远能够倚靠的天父。
完美的天父上帝永不会辜负或离弃我们，
更不会停止爱我们