06/15/2026
Faith Presbyterian Church Quincy, Illinois June 15, 2026
A Devotion for the Week of Father’s Day: Our Heavenly Father’s Faithful Hand
— Rev. Dr. Tom Dickerson, Pastor
This week, as we celebrate Father’s Day, many hearts carry a mixture of emotions. For some, the day brings joy, gratitude, and tender memories. For others, it may awaken longing, grief, disappointment, or the ache of what was absent. Wherever this week finds you, I pray you will hear the gentle invitation of Scripture: to look beyond every earthly experience and rest in the faithful hand of our Heavenly Father.
As a pastor—and as this day also marks my own birthday—I find myself especially grateful. I was blessed with earthly parents who filled our home with love, support, and faith. Church was not simply an event on the calendar; it was woven into the rhythm of our lives. From nursery days to Vacation Bible School, from childhood into adulthood, I knew I was loved, protected, prayed for, and pointed toward Christ.
That foundation shaped me in ways I continue to discover. It helped form the life God has now entrusted to me—my wife, our three children, nine grandchildren, and the extended family of our church and work. Every good gift has been woven together by the Creator’s gracious hand. When people ask whether God exists, I can only answer from the testimony of my own life: how could He not? His fatherly care has been written across every chapter, and perhaps you can trace His hand across your story as well.
Scripture Focus
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” (Psalm 103:13, NIV)
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1, NIV)
“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:18, NIV)
These passages remind us that even the best earthly fathers are only a glimpse of the perfect love of our Heavenly Father. His compassion does not grow weary. His love is not measured or withheld. He calls us His children, not because we have earned such grace, but because He has imparted His love upon us in Christ.
Earthly fathers, at their best, reflect something of God’s heart. My own father modeled consistency, provision, and spiritual leadership. Our home was grounded in faith not because it was convenient, but because it was true. Yet even the most loving human father cannot compare with the Father who knew us before we were born, carried us through every season, and continues to guide our steps with mercy and wisdom.
So, this week, whether your memories of fatherhood are joyful, complicated, or painful, turn your eyes to the One who never leaves nor forsakes His children. He is the source of every blessing: the family we cherish, the church that surrounds us, the grace that sustains us, and the legacy of faith we are called to pass on.
This Father’s Day week, live with open eyes to the blessings around you. Speak gratitude aloud. Encourage a father, mentor a child, comfort someone who grieves, and invest faithfully in the next generation. Above all, rest in the unchanging love of your Heavenly Father, who calls you His own. The One who began a good work in you and in your family will be faithful to carry it to completion.
May God bless you richly as you celebrate, remember, and reflect. Happy Father’s Day—and to every heart that needs to hear this today: you are deeply loved by the Father who made you, knows you, and holds you in His faithful hand.
