This picture can radically change how you wake up tomorrow

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

What does it mean that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is “Everlasting Father”? Many commentaries point out that Isaiah is not confusing God the Son with God the Father here. He seems to be saying that the Messiah will approach us with an everlasting father-like character. In Jesus’s own words, he is “gently and lowly in heart,” not gruff and legalistic (see Matthew 11:29).

I was recently at an event with the brilliant Christian psychiatrist, Dr. Curt Thompson, who offered a picture of Jesus’s father-like character that knocked me out. Psalm 121:3-4 tells us that God does not “slumber nor sleep” but he “watches over you” each night. Now, Dr. Thompson said, imagine that when you woke up this morning, the Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit—all said to each other, “Ashley’s awake! Matt’s awake! Guys, gather around.” 

Then the Father turns to you and says, “Good morning! We’ve been waiting for you all night. We can’t wait for others to encounter you today. You are the light of the world. Go and reflect our light today!”

Many in our group wept over this picture. But a few winced, finding the image unbelievable at best and heretically pollyannaish at worst. Why? Because many Christians believe that God can’t possibly show that level of personal attention to us. And if he does, he does so begrudgingly—and mostly to shame sinners.

Commenting on this common thinking, pastor Dane Ortlund says, “We naturally think of Jesus touching us the way a little boy reaches out to touch a slug… [But] the posture most natural to him is not a pointed finger but open arms.” 

Romans 8:1 says, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We are not prisoners of war, but adopted children (see Romans 8:14-17).

Think about how you interact with your own kids. I'm ecstatic to see mine in the morning (so long as it's after 6 a.m.). If I can feel that way about my children, imagine how much more excited God is to see you arise each morning.

Ortlund says, “The battle of the Christian life is to bring your own heart into alignment with Christ’s, that is, getting up each morning and replacing your natural orphan mind-set with a mind-set of full and free adoption into the family of God.”

God is not absent from or indifferent to your rising today. He woke you up with intention and anticipation to watch you “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Lean joyfully into that work today, knowing the Everlasting Father is with you.