March 6

Guardian of the Fatherless

Assyria will not save us, nor will we ride on horses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our own hands. For in You the fatherless find compassion. — Hos 14:3 BSB

This is a powerful reason to cast away all other confidences and rely solely on the Lord. When a child is left without their natural protector, God steps in and becomes their guardian. Similarly, when a person loses every source of dependence, they can throw themselves upon the living God and find in Him everything they need. Orphans are cast upon the fatherhood of God, and He faithfully provides for them. The author of these pages knows what it is to rely entirely on God’s strength, and he testifies that no trust is as well-founded or as surely rewarded as trust in the invisible but ever-living God.

Some children who have fathers are not much better off because of them, but the fatherless with God are truly rich. It is better to have God as your only friend than to have all the patrons on earth without Him. Losing earthly support is painful, but as long as the Lord remains our fountain of mercy, we are not truly orphaned. Let fatherless children claim the gracious promise for today, and let all who have lost visible support do the same. Lord, let me find mercy in You! The more needy and helpless I am, the more confidently I appeal to Your loving heart.