John 1:12 (NKJV) – “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
Silence and Listening Is One of the Highest Forms of Prayer
This morning in prayer, a powerful truth came to me as I stopped praying and just listened—God is not only mighty, strong, and powerful; He is also loving, caring, personable, and a Father. He is a Father who does not abandon His children or take delight in their pain and suffering. He is a Father who walks with us through pain and gently guides us in His ways. As a Father, He loves family. He created angelic beings and called them His sons (Job 38:4–7), and likewise, He created us and calls us His children (John 1:12).
Many believers genuinely embrace God as Father, yet still struggle to fully accept that He remains a Father when they fail. Intellectually, they know He is still there—but emotionally, they punish themselves by speaking negative words over their lives instead of running to their Father and allowing Him to love them, correct them, and guide them in paths of righteousness.
So how does someone embrace an all-powerful God they cannot see as a Father? He is not visible to the eye, yet He can be known—felt, learned from, spoken with. Knowing God as Father begins with faith: faith that He is and full assurance in what the Bible declares Him to be. From there, it grows through experience—personal encounters with Him and learning how He deals with each of us individually.
This struggle does not mean someone does not know God as Father. Many truly do. But they may vacillate at times—moving between consistent trust and moments of doubt—forgetting that the clearest expression of the Father’s love is this: He loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die on a cross for us. Why does this vacillation between faith and doubt happen?
As I Listened in Prayer, God Spoke Three Words to My Heart: Rejection. Worth. Identity.
Often, it is rooted in deep and painful places, such as these:
1. Rejection — From the World and People
Many have experienced rejection throughout life—rejection from parents, authority figures, family members, friends, or even other believers. These wounds quietly shape how God is perceived. When rejection has been a constant companion, it becomes difficult to believe that anyone—especially God—will remain close without eventually walking away.
At some point, this must be explored honestly: Is there something relational that needs healing, or is the rejection tied to deeper spiritual and emotional wounds that require God’s restoring touch?
2. Worth — Not Feeling “Worthy Enough”
There is often a tension between knowing one belongs to God and still struggling to believe He could truly love someone just as they are. This sense of unworthiness is frequently connected to rejection. To avoid further loss, people may shift who they are, try to please others, or take the blame for things that are not theirs—hoping to secure acceptance. Tragically, this usually results in people never truly knowing who they are.
3. Identity — Not Knowing How to Live in the World While Fully Living for God
Some believers forget how to enjoy life. They become withdrawn, cautious, and isolated—desiring friendship and laughter, yet walking in shame or fear rather than confidence in who they are in Christ. Though not always constant, this internal back-and-forth can feel exhausting.
Who delivers from this kind of bondage? Jesus is able to.
It is important to say this clearly: many who struggle in these ways truly do know God as Father. They have spent countless hours with Him. He has met them in the deepest places of their soul—sometimes for decades. Yet even after many years of walking with God, seasons can arise where identity feels shaken and the unconditional love of the Father feels harder to receive.
Long seasons of responsibility, ministry pressure, unmet expectations, emotional exhaustion, health challenges, depression, and isolation can all contribute to this struggle. In those seasons, people often retreat—not because they don’t love God, but because they are trying to survive.
Still, the heart’s cry remains the same: to truly know the Father—not just doctrinally, but relationally; not just once, but again. To grow deeper into the reality that God is a Father who loves unconditionally, heals patiently, restores identity, and welcomes His children home—again and again.
If you relate to this, give a thumbs up or a quick testimony. —Brad Kuechler
Key Scriptures on Rejection, Worth, and Identity (NKJV)
Job 38:4–7 (NKJV)
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
John 1:12 (NKJV)
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”
John 3:16 (NKJV)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Romans 5:8 (NKJV)
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Psalm 27:10 (NKJV)
“When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the LORD will take care of me.”
Psalm 68:5 (NKJV)
“A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.”
Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)
“Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 43:1 (NKJV)
“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.’”
Ephesians 1:5–6 (NKJV)
“Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Romans 8:15–16 (NKJV)
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,”
1 John 3:1 (NKJV)
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Romans 8:1 (NKJV)
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Devotional Reflection Questions
- Where have you felt rejection most deeply, and how has that shaped the way you relate to God as Father?
- In what ways do you “punish yourself” emotionally or mentally after failure, instead of running to the Father for love and correction?
- What is one truth from the Scriptures above that you can speak over your identity in Christ today?
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