Bread from Heaven

I knelt by his bedside, touched him and prayed a sincere and humble prayer. Moments after I finished praying, I said, "It's going to be alright, little man." Without awakening he said, "Okay, daddy" and fell into the most peaceful sleep I had ever seen. Needless to say that caught my attention: He heard the voice of his father and it changed his situation.

I could not wait until the next night to see what would happen. Hours passed by but there wasn't a sound. The silence was so loud that I felt the urge to check on him. He was lying there without a care in the world. It was as if he was sleeping on clouds. I peeped in on him for the next few nights but I really didn't have to. But I just wanted to see his face. There was an expression on it that said I'm safe. Restlessness, anxiety, and worry had been overcome by assurance.

Over the past few months, I have reflected on that day and have come to realize the whole ordeal was for me. There was a lesson I needed to learn. What I now know, more than ever, is that the voice of a father carries tremendous weight in a child's life. It can bring stability in times of uncertainty, restore calmness in the midst of chaos, and rebuild the confidence every child needs when navigating their way through the rough terrains of life. A father's voice is what helps the child become. Moreover, God illustrated a simple yet powerful truth for the life of a believer: His word answers all. It is everything we need to make it.

The model prayer teaches us to ask of the Father our daily bread (Matt. 6:11). In doing so we are seeking far more than the typical wheat flour variety. Not only are we asking for physical food but for the intangibles as well. We are desirous of the word of his grace (Acts 20:32) which can give focus when we cannot see it, lift burdens when we are overwhelmed, reroute us when we have lost our way, and open a door when we need a way out. As bread alone is not enough (Matt. 4:4), we ask for that grace necessary for life - an "it's going to be alright" word from the mouth of God that gives us strength for the journey.