The Day God Spoke – I’m Not Like Your Father

What happens when we open our heart to see God?

Key points:

Amber was only five years old when she first stepped into the saddle of a horse. As she tells it, it was love at first ride. From that moment on, Amber took every opportunity to ride and be around horses. She read every book about them she could find, and she wore her riding boots around the house every day. Each Christmas, she wrote to Santa asking for a stallion. All she ever wanted was to be a jockey or a cowgirl.

With her heart set on a copper-coloured mare, Amber poured herself into her studies.

As a teenager, Amber dreamed of competing in show jumping—but to do that, she needed a horse of her own. So she asked her dad, “Can you buy me a horse?” To her delight, the answer was yes—on one condition. If she worked hard and achieved top grades at school, her father would buy her one.

With her heart set on a copper-coloured mare, Amber poured herself into her studies. When the end of term finally came, she had done it. She’d earned the grades her father had asked for. Beaming with pride, she handed him her report card, eager to hear when he would buy the mare he’d promised.

But her father shook his head. There would be no horse. He explained that he had only made the promise to motivate her—there was no way they could afford the ongoing costs.

Amber was devastated. That very day, she quit riding. She stopped visiting the stables, closed her horse books, packed away her riding gear, and never spoke of horses again.

One day, Amber asked God to speak to her. The answer came as a deep, inner knowing: “I am not like your earthly father.”

The following year, her grades plummeted. She began sneaking out of the house, lying to her parents, and partying hard. The pattern continued into her young adult years as she spiralled into a lifestyle of alcohol and drugs.

Then, at the age of twenty-two, Amber made a decision to follow Jesus. She threw herself into church life, doing everything she could to live rightly. Yet even then, she found it difficult to trust God. Deep down, she battled feelings of being forgotten. The wound from her father’s broken promise had never fully healed.

One day, Amber asked God to speak to her. The answer came as a deep, inner knowing: “I am not like your earthly father.”

In that moment, a verse came to mind: “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.” (Numbers 23:19, NIV)

Amber broke down in tears. Through sobs, she prayed,“Forgive me, God. Help me not to see you through my father’s flaws. Help me to trust you.”

The Holy Spirit wants to speak into our lives and show us where we don’t see God’s heart clearly

As she prayed, compassion began to rise in her heart for her father. Yes, he had made a painful mistake, but his intentions had been good. He had loved her deeply, even if imperfectly.

As the Spirit spoke, a deep peace filled Amber’s heart. The ache that had haunted her for years was suddenly, miraculously healed.

But Amber’s story didn’t end there. Three days later, she was chatting with a friend who mentioned that his wife had a horse she hadn’t ridden in years. Laughing, Amber said, “I’ll ride him for her!”

A week later, Amber met Theodore the horse for the first time. She was handed the reins, the riding tack, and all the equipment. “Ride Theodore like he’s yours,” her friend told her. “I’ll pay for all his food and upkeep.”

Listen to ‘Everyday God Conversations’ with Tania Harris wherever you get your podcasts.

Amber could hardly believe it. She finally had a horse—and her heavenly Father was paying for it. The joy and gratitude were overwhelming. God truly loved her.

It’s a beautiful story of healing and grace, but can you see how the Holy Spirit works? God speaks to heal the wounds in our hearts and reveal his true nature to us. This is exactly what Jesus promised when he said the Spirit would remind us of everything he had said (John 14:26)

Amber’s story is an example for us. Holy Spirit wants to speak into our lives and show us where we don’t see God’s heart clearly. The challenge is to listen and respond just as Amber did.

So ask yourself: what is the Holy Spirit saying to you?

Listen to ‘Everyday God Conversations’ with Tania Harris wherever you get your podcasts.

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