Our Father | Champ Thornton
We all carry something. Some carry anxiety into every decision. Some carry shame that keeps them quiet. Others carry pain they’ve never talked about. And many of us, especially when things get dark, wonder: Will God carry someone like me?
The answer is found not in how we feel, but in who He is.
A God Who Carries, Not Condemns
In Isaiah 46, God speaks directly to people described as “stubborn of heart” and “far from righteousness.” He isn’t yelling or punishing. He’s promising: “I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay. I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.” (Isaiah 46:13)
This promise is astounding. God’s carrying isn’t based on our goodness. It’s based on His love.
But how is this possible? How can a perfect God carry people who’ve made such a mess?
Jesus Is Why God Carries Us
The key is Jesus. The Son who was never lost, never stubborn, never unrighteous. The one who has always been perfectly loved.
God didn’t become a Father when Jesus was born on Earth. He has always been Father because He has always had a Son. From eternity past, before time began, the Father was loving the Son.
This isn’t just theology—it’s the foundation of our hope.
When Jesus prays “Abba, Father” in the Garden of Gethsemane, He’s not using a casual phrase. He’s revealing a relationship of eternal love and trust. He alone could use that word with absolute right.
And yet, the beauty of the Gospel is that when we turn to Jesus, we are united with Him. We are grafted into that very relationship.
When We Call Him Father, We’re Using Jesus’ Words
Think of it like using a password that unlocks someone else’s bank account. Not because you stole it, but because the rightful owner gave you permission. That’s what happens when we pray “Abba.” It’s not just a term of endearment—it’s a term of access.
We get to speak to God the way Jesus does because we belong to Him.
This means God doesn’t carry us out of pity. He carries us out of love. The same love He has for His Son, He extends to you.
So yes, even if your heart feels stubborn.
Even if your past feels disqualifying.
Even if your faith feels fragile.
God carries us.
A Story in the Dark
Over 20 years ago, a pastor told a story that illustrates this powerfully. In his church was a strong, tall man named Tom. He and his wife had a little girl. But not long after she was born, Tom’s wife passed away.
One night, Tom came home to that now-dark, empty house with his daughter. He helped her into her pajamas, turned off the lights, and tried to settle her into bed.
But she looked up at him and said, “Daddy, it’s so dark. Could you rock me like Mommy used to?”
So he did.
He sat in a chair, rocked her in his big arms, and when she finally drifted off, he laid her in bed.
Then Tom sat back down. Alone. Still surrounded by darkness. And he looked up at the ceiling and whispered: “God, it’s so dark in here. Could you rock me too?”
And that night, God did.
God Meets You Where You Actually Are
That story echoes what many of us long to say but feel too ashamed to admit. We’ve tried to stay strong, tried to carry ourselves, tried to pretend we don’t need help.
But we do.
And the moment we stop striving and start surrendering is the moment God steps in—not with guilt, but with grace. God doesn’t love us because we clean up well. He loves us because Jesus stands in our place.
When we pray to the Father, He sees us through the lens of the Son He has always loved.
That’s why you can be honest about your brokenness.
That’s why your prayers don’t have to be polished.
That’s why your shame doesn’t get the final say.
Because Jesus is the Son who deserves to be carried, and you are in Him.
Why This Changes Everything
When you understand that God carries us because of Jesus, several things change:
- You stop faking perfection.
You don’t have to pretend to be strong. Weakness becomes the doorway to being held. - You let go of religious pressure.
This isn’t about praying harder, trying harder, or being more disciplined. It’s about trusting the One who already did everything for you. - You stop seeing God as distant.
The Father isn’t waiting to be impressed. He’s waiting to hold you. - You speak to God with confidence.
Not because you’re righteous, but because Jesus is—and He shares that righteousness with you.
Are You Willing to Be Carried?
Let this question sit with you: Have you been trying to carry yourself?
Maybe you’ve been keeping score, hoping your good outweighs your bad. Or maybe you’ve given up, thinking you’re beyond rescue.
But today, there’s another way.
You can fall into the arms of a Father who delights in carrying His children.
You can stop performing and start trusting.
You can stop pretending and start resting.
He’s not asking you to prove yourself. He’s asking you to let Him carry you.