A youth pastor recently shared an inspiring story that vividly illustrates the way God demonstrates the love of a Father.
A Youth Pastor
The dynamic youth pastor of Reconciliation Ministries International (R.M.I), Norris Johnson II, shared an incident that helped him understand the love of a father. While in college, he struggled with a severe drug addiction. Despite this, he continued preaching, concealing his relapse from everyone. One night, at 3 o’clock in the morning, he felt a dark presence enveloping him.
“This immense feeling of depression and suicidal thoughts just came. It was one of the strongest, like dark feelings I’ve ever felt in my life,” he
recalled.
From that moment on, he understood that depression wasn’t merely a mood or an emotion.
“I’ve always called it [depression] a presence because I felt it grabbed me,” he shared.
Due to his intense emotions, he opted to call his father, who resided an hour away. He started to confide in his father, sharing all that he was experiencing. He endeavored to reveal his inner struggles and allowed himself to be vulnerable.
Norris Johnson II
[@norrisjohnsonii]. God is a good Father. Instagram, December 20, 2023, https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1DWuCwuwfi/
Love of a Father
Furthermore, in response, Norris’s father attentively listened, offering guidance, love, and wisdom to help him navigate through the challenging moment. Reflecting on this pivotal conversation, Norris emphasized, “He started to talk me through it and walk me through it. Love me through it and give me wisdom. Give me all those things.”
That’s when he realized that while he was being vulnerable and honest, his father wasn’t just listening to him, but he was also moving closer to him, eventually standing right outside his door. This profound moment helped him understand the essence of a father’s love. He discovered that similar to his earthly father, God not only hears His children in times of darkness but also draws nearer to them.
Watch the full video here.
Reference | Norris Johnson II
Header Image: Norris Johnson II [@norrisjohnsonii]. God is a good Father. Instagram, December 20, 2023, https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1DWuCwuwfi/