Jesus and Fatherhood
I recently returned from a family beach trip. One of those trips filled with sunshine, sandy snacks, fruity drinks, and that deep kind of joy you only get by watching your kids and grandkids play in the waves.
But the thing that stuck with me the most wasn’t the ocean or the food. It was watching my sons-in-law lean into being fathers. Watching them chase their kids through the surf, bandage scraped knees, play games, and build crooked sandcastles.
None of it was flashy. But it was steady. They were present. Loving. And I was reminded, fatherhood isn’t just a role. It’s a calling. One of the greatest and heaviest things a man can carry.
I know that talking about fatherhood resonates with people differently. For some, it stirs up gratitude and pride. For others, it brings up painful memories of absence, failure, and insecurity. Maybe you had a great dad. Maybe you didn’t. Maybe you’re trying to become the dad you never had. Or maybe you’re just wondering if you’re even cut out for it.
Wherever you land, here’s the hope: you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. And your strength doesn’t have to come just from you. Jesus offers a better way, a model built on grace, not perfection. A love that shows up, not one that keeps score.
And if you’re not even sure what you believe about Jesus but deep down, you feel like something’s missing in your fatherhood, something you can’t quite fix, maybe that’s the starting line. What if the strength you’ve been searching for isn’t in you, but in Him?
Jesus: Our Model for Fatherhood
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus shows us how to lead, not through control or power plays, but through humility, sacrifice, and love. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45 ESV)
That’s our blueprint as fathers.
Fatherhood isn’t about having all the answers (and let’s be honest…we won’t). It’s about showing up with a heart that reflects Jesus. It’s about loving when it costs something. Serving others when we’d rather be served. Being present when it’s inconvenient. Staying teachable when we feel like shutting down.
I’ve been there. Years ago, I stepped into the role of stepdad to two amazing…but also stress-inducing girls. I didn’t have any experience. I just knew I wanted to be someone they could count on. And while there were moments, I got it right, there were plenty I didn’t.
But I’ve learned that grace fills the gaps because Jesus doesn’t ask us to be perfect fathers. He just asks us to follow Him. And when we do, He shapes us day by day into the kind of men our families can follow too.
You Have What It Takes When You Have Him
If you’ve placed your faith and trust in Jesus, His Spirit is in you, leading, strengthening, and refining. “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.” (Ezekiel 36:26 ESV)
That means you can lead from freedom, not fear. You can admit when you blow it. You can model grace not just for your kids, but for yourself too.
Here’s what I want every father (or future father) to hear: through Jesus, you already have what you need to be the man your family needs. Not because you’re perfect but because He is. Your past doesn’t disqualify you. Your doubts don’t bench you. Your failures don’t define you.
So, whether you’re chasing toddlers through the waves, trying to build something that kind of resembles a sandcastle, or just doing your best to keep your head above water, remember this: You are not alone. You have what it takes when you have Jesus.
Talk to your Heavenly Father today. Ask Him for the strength to love well, to show up, and to keep choosing presence over pressure for your family. And when it gets hard (because it will), picture Jesus not shouting from the shore, but kneeling in the sand with you. Guiding with love. Lifting with grace.
That’s the kind of fatherhood that changes legacies. And the kind that builds something eternal…even out of crooked sandcastles.