Trusting the Father

Who among us hasn’t felt the urge to run from God’s presence after a mistake—especially following sin or disobedience? It’s all too easy to hide in shame when guilt takes over.

• We feel unworthy.
• Unlovable.
• Disqualified from entering His presence.

I’ve found myself there many times. But one morning, God used a very simple situation to reveal the mistake I was making by running from Him in those moments. He used my daughter to teach me.

Like any child, my daughter makes mistakes—every single day. But here’s what stands out: every time she’s corrected, her first instinct is to run toward us—not away.

• She wants to be near.
• She says sorry quickly.
• She longs for reconciliation no matter the cost.
• Whether or not there’s a consequence, she works to restore the connection.

As her parent, how can I stay angry when her heart is so tender and open? How could I resist someone who so clearly wants peace more than pride? I find myself lowering my voice, explaining things calmly, embracing her gently. Not because she “deserves it”... but because she’s mine. Because her desire for closeness moves my heart.

In those moments when we run from God instead of to Him—what are we really saying? Aren’t we acting like:

• “I don’t believe You’re loving enough to forgive me.”
• “I don’t believe You really want me back after this.”

But Scripture tells us otherwise:

God doesn’t withdraw in our weakness. We do. And when we do, our hearts dry up. We stop hearing His voice of love. We start living in shame and regret, and we lose the clarity to find our way out.

So what if—like a child—we chose instead to run toward the Father when we fall? What if we trusted His heart enough to believe:

• He wants us near.
• He is always ready to forgive.
• His desire is to restore us, not shame us.

Like a child, we can learn to:

1. Trust the Father’s love
2. Run to Him, not away
3. Confess honestly and quickly
4. Listen as He gently teaches us
5. Pursue peace—with God and with those affected by our actions

The Bible is full of verses echoing this call to trust in God alone. Here are a few:

• “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust…” — Psalm 40:4
• “I will wait for the Lord… I will put my trust in Him.” — Isaiah 8:17
• “Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in You.” — Psalm 84:12
• “Blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.” — Proverbs 16:20
• “He who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.” — Proverbs 28:25
• “Whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” — Proverbs 29:25
• “You will keep in perfect peace those… who trust in You.” — Isaiah 26:3
• “Cursed is the one who trusts in man… blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” — Jeremiah 17:5–7
• “The Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him.” — Psalm 32:10

Don’t let shame push you away from the One who can actually heal you. Run to your Father. He already sees. He already knows. And yet—He still wants you close.