Advice for Young People Who Have Grown Up Without Fathers, Part 3 (TMIM #9)

Today, I want to continue sharing some advice with young people who have grown up without fathers. Already, we have discussed six things that you should do.:

1. Get to know God as your Heavenly Father. 
2. Read the Bible consistently. 
3. Talk to God about anything and everything through prayer. 
4. Choose not to become bitter toward your father.
5. Choose to love, appreciate, and thank God for the parent or parent figure you do have.
6. Ask God to give you godly, older mentors and friends.

Here are three more things that you ought to do if you are in such a situation.

1. Do not let the absence of a father in your life become a crutch or excuse for not reaching your potential. Often, when a person grows up with disadvantages or has some kind of disability in life, they will use that disadvantage or disability as an excuse for not accomplishing great things. Every time they fail or every time someone asks them why they did not reach a goal, they eventually come back around to an explanation that begins with, ‘Well, my father was not in my life...' or whatever their disadvantage happens to be.

You don't want to be that person. Your entire life does not have to be defined by your father's absence from your childhood. Instead of viewing it as a permanent handicap, simply view it a hurdle that must be overcome. And, the Bible says that through Jesus Christ, we are overcomers. Learn to say with Paul, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Don't be afraid to dream big and to set big goals. Don't let a disadvantage hold you back from accomplishing everything that God wants you to accomplish. 

2. Commit to having an others-focused view of life. Another trap that some people who grow up with a disadvantage fall into is living a self-centered life. ...