The Local Church

In My Daddy's Arms

When I was 3 years old, my father left. Like the story of many, my mommy and daddy would no longer be my mommy and daddy (or at least that's how this 3-year-old saw things). It was painful. As a young child I learned well the real meaning of the word divorce, but even into my adolescence I could not answer my heart's haunting question: ``Where is my daddy?''

Through my childhood, I always had a deep sense that I needed my daddy. I tried various things--some good, some bad--always attempting to calm the clamoring question of my heart: Where is my daddy? My search continued. All the while, however, I had no realization that my father was seeking me. What? My Father? Seeking me? It was really true. My heavenly Father was seeking me. John 4:23 says, ``...the Father also seeks such to worship Him...'' Can you imagine?--the God of the universe, my heavenly Father, sought me out!!

Three weeks before I turned 13 years old, my heavenly Father found me. He took me into His arms and He has never let me go. (What joy and rest to be in my Daddy's arms.) It happened like this. I was at a meeting of the local church in Spokane. I was only there because my mother forced me to go, but the strangest (or most wonderful) thing happened to me in that meeting. That night I had the realization that my heavenly Father was seeking me. I had a deep sense that not only had I found my Father, but that my Father had found me. He was calling me to Himself (1 Corinthians 1:9). I called on Him from the depths of my being (Romans 10:12-13), and my satisfied heart exclaimed, I love Him! I love my Daddy's arms! Indeed, I had been brought directly into the lap of God Himself. Oh, in my Daddy's arms!

Since that day, I have continued in the Christian fellowship of the local churches. Today, at the age of 36, I testify with much joy and comfort that there has never passed a day that I could not find my Daddy's arms, the arms of my heavenly Father. Also, having two precious daughters of my own (whom I love to hold in my arms), I would like to testify to anyone who is seeking the real Father that, in fact, ``...the Father also seeks such to worship Him...'' (John 4:23).

Now I count it a joy to join my dear Lord Jesus in saying ``...I must be in the things of my Father'' (Luke 2:49). For now, you see, my testimony is not centered on my question: ``Where is my daddy?'' Much rather, it is centered on my Father's interest and on my heart's joyful response: ``In my Daddy's arms!''

Darryl Rawlins | Back to List

Home Beliefs Revealed History Testimonies Recognition Contact Us Links