Picture the scene. It’s a Thursday afternoon and I’m working in my home
office in Melbourne when my wife, Emma, and my youngest son, Isaac,
approach my door.
“Joel, Isaac has something he wants to tell you.”’
With tears in his eyes, Isaac says, “Dad, I’m so sorry I did it again.”
I follow them inside, take one look at the crime scene and then walk
into my bedroom. I mutter to myself, “Joel, it was just an accident.”
As
I’m trying to keep it together, my oldest son, Elijah, crashes into my
room and says, ‘Don’t be angry at him, Dad! I know it’s the third window
he’s broken, but it wasn’t his fault'.
I snap back, “Give me a moment!”
Parents under pressure:
As
a father of three who lives in Melbourne, this year has been a slap in
the face. In 2020 my family has endured extended lockdowns, facemasks,
home learning … and three broken windows! Even as I write this article,
my three kids – like heat-seeking missiles – are tracking me down from
room to room in a perpetual quest for my attention or simply for some
snacks.
Being a parent means you rarely clock off. Being a parent in a pandemic means you never clock off.
As
a pastor of a church, I have heard the quote “Never let a good crisis
go to waste” a thousand times. It’s an inspiring quote by Winston
Churchill that has influenced me to see difficulties of 2020 as
opportunities for my character to be sharpened. But as a father, I
rarely apply this quote to my parenting. And yet the truth is that
tantrums, fights, toilet training, home learning and sleepless nights
are actually parenting opportunities – where my character will be
exposed for what it really is and refined into what it could become.
The Bible – a mirror for your soul:
As
a follower of Jesus, I’m a fan of the most read book in human history:
the Bible. And what I love about the Bible is that it’s a mirror for my
soul. It doesn’t shy away from revealing to me the beautiful and ugly
parts of my character. In a politically correct society, the Bible is
not afraid to offend me—to tell me that I’m just as rebellious as my
children. In fact, they get their disobedience from me.
As the writer Paul says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 8:23)
The gospel – gold for your soul:
I
love the bluntness of the Bible, but also the grace of the gospel –
that by faith in the death and beautiful resurrection of Jesus I can be
undeservingly adopted into God’s family. I can become a child of grace!
In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:4–5)
As an imperfect father, the gospel is gold for my soul. Because in the
gospel of Jesus I learn that I am a loved and forgiven son! And I learn
that I’m not the only father of my children: they have a perfect Father
who loves them even more than I do.
Released from the pressure of fatherhood:
This
good news releases me from the overwhelming pressure of fatherhood –
it’s not all up to me. But it also helps me to see the gift of
fatherhood – that even the difficult moments are opportunities that can
mould me into the likeness of Jesus and enable me to demonstrate the
love of Jesus.
Fathers, listen to Robert Fulghum when he says,
‘Don’t worry that your children never listen to you; worry that they are
always watching you.”
When my youngest son broke that third
window, I was able to display the grace of Jesus that I always preach
about. When I lost my temper at my oldest son, I had an opportunity to
model the concept of repentance that I always teach him about.
The greatest gift this Father’s Day:
Being
a father is a difficult task but it’s also delightful one. This
Father’s Day, if you are a dad, I hope you are celebrated and
appreciated. I hope you are gifted with a sleep-in, breakfast in bed, a
hand-made card and a Bunnings voucher.
But no matter what
material gifts you receive, don’t forget to see the little gifts in
front of you. For your children are the greatest gift you will receive
on Father’s Day: little human beings who long for your affection, your
attention and your approval; little humans who are broken like you and
need the gospel of Jesus preached and demonstrated to them daily.
Dads,
keep pressing on. Keep working hard. Be present, be affectionate, be
attentive. You cannot be a perfect father; but you can tell your kids
that you love them, you can repent in front of them, and you can tell
them that you’re proud of them. And, most importantly, you can talk to
them about their heavenly Father, who loves them even more than you do.
This year, do your best to turn Father’s Day from being about you to
being about God, the perfect Father, who so loved you and your children
that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Profile Background:
Joel
Deacon is a husband of one, father of three and friend to anyone. He is
a pastor at City on a Hill: Melbourne and a servant of the servant
King.
Prayer Response to this featured article:
Thank you for being a loving Father on this Father’s Day!
(Written by Joel Deacon, 4th Sept 2020 – Growing Faith, a ministry of YouthWorks for 15th June 2025 – Father’s Day, https://growingfaith.com.au/articles/the-difficulty-and-delight-of-fatherhood)
HOPE OF LIFE BLOG
Sunday, 21 June 2026
The difficulty and delight of fatherhood
Saturday, 6 June 2026
The deadliest sin
So the learning point that if the attitude of trust in the wisdom, love, and power of God had brought peace and quietness to the soul of the Psalmist, then we are able to leave the unanswerable questions with God, our souls are loosed from tension as the Psalmist recommends that we should have attitude of confidence in the Lord (Psalm 131:2– 3, NIV). This teaches us that we should clothe ourselves with humility (1 Peter 5:5, NIV) because pride is regarded being as deadly sin.
As a Christian, I thank God for making me as a blessed man being conformed to God’s Word as I do things to please Him with my whole heart. I pray that my life will be cleansed and be abstained from evil with doing what is right in the sight of God as I handle the Word Of God diligently being as a believer (Psalm 119:100–104, NIV)
Are you cleansed by the Word of God today?
Lord, help us to stand with simplicity and dignity to Your Will without sin of pride. Thank You for making us blessed child as we seek to do what is right in God’s sight.
(Written by Jeremy Koh, 12th February 2014)
Saturday, 30 May 2026
Knowing God
In my today’s devotional reading, I noted how God answered the prayers of the Psalmist to experience the deliverance as a testimony to show the Lord’s faithfulness in his life. By this, God also assures Israel that He has redeemed Israel from all his iniquities (Psalm 130:7– 8, NIV). I am reminded how trusting in the Lord brings God’s blessings upon a person’s life. After all, God knows a man’s deceitful heart and will punish the man who gets riches dishonestly (Jeremiah 17:7–8, NIV). And, God promised that He would make New Covenant with Israel/us today to bring it to a complete fulfillment when Christ comes back to reign over repentant hearts and would redeem us all as a nation (Hebrews 8:8, NIV).
This encourages me to have a room for the Lord to enable me to work out my salvation and move me to maturity to a full measure of faith of believing in Him.
Let’s grow in maturity to a full measure of faith today!
(Written by Jeremy Koh, 11th February 2014)
Sunday, 24 May 2026
Empowered by the Holy Spirit for Mission
As we read and ponder upon what the Scriptures said, “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1–4, NKJV), we see how Pentecost celebrates the birth of the Church and the mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. What began as a small, hesitant gathering of fearful followers was transformed into a Spirit–empowered movement that spread across the world. The wind and fire symbolize God’s power and presence, reminding us that the Spirit is never passive but always active – transforming lives, empowering believers, and sending us out to bear faithful witness to the gospel, especially to those who have yet to believe in God.
Sunday, 10 May 2026
Leaving a Spiritual Legacy
Thursday, 30 April 2026
CHRISTIAN VIEWPOINT FEATURE #20A
Saturday, 18 April 2026
Representing Resurrection
The difficulty and delight of fatherhood
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