He simply wanted some clarity about his heritage. The young man was adopted as an infant by a couple that provided a wonderful home for him. They were very supportive of their son’s efforts to connect with his birth mother and biological father. They knew clarity would provide the young man greater comfort and confidence in who he was.

One would think that such an inquisitive nature from a child, a peer, an employee or a citizen would always be welcomed when clarity around a given issue is the goal. Not always so when parents question the curriculum used in public schools; Not always so when doctors question hospital protocol for prescribing therapeutics; Not so when five thousand doctors sign off on a report questioning lockdowns during a pandemic; Not so when a country that is hosting an international tennis tournament is questioned about a national mandate governing participation; and, not so when a career healthcare worker questions a vaccine mandate for continued employ. There is no clarity, no comfort and no confidence when such queries are disregarded at best and demonized at worst.

He drew close to Thomas. “Reach out and touch Me. See the punctures in My hands; Reach out your hand, and put it to My side; Leave behind your faithlessness, and believe.” Thomas said, “You are the one True God and Lord of my life.” – John 20:27-28. Jesus did not ridicule Thomas for questioning the other disciples’ stories. He welcomed Thomas with open arms to validate his encounter with the resurrected Christ. It provided absolute clarity in the midst of a very confusing time. When Thomas said, “You are the one True God and Lord of my life,” Thomas expressed complete comfort in Jesus as Lord and established a newfound confidence in who he was and Whose he was. As dads, it is important to open our arms to inquiring minds no matter how trivial or crucial the questions might be. The kids may experience their own ‘Thomas moment’. Know that it is always okay to say, “I do not know. Let’s research this together.” 

Thanks to very supportive adoptive parents and his own tenacious nature, the young man did connect with his birth mother and eventually his biological father. The resultant clarity provided the comfort and confidence he sought. For the full story, click HERE to access Faithful Fathering’s podcast series – “In Search of a Father”. The corresponding charge to dads is to embrace your children’s inquisitive minds as they seek clarity in what is before them. And follow your own inquisitive nature until you gain clarity needed from your School Board, employer, doctor or local, state and national government.

Prayer guide: Father, thank You for Your word and the clarity it provides. I confess that I read a lot of stuff on self-motivation and self-actualization as I sought answers for questions in this world, and read little to no Scripture. Forgive me. Grounding in Your word provides the clarity needed to navigate through this confusing world. Thank You for Your patience with me and Your willingness to entertain my questions. Strengthen me as Your representative in my home to embrace the inquisitive minds of my children as they seek clarity in this world. That is the dad You call me to be and that’s the dad my kids need to see. Amen.

A faithful father provides clarity in this world with grounding in God’s word.