God’s love as a Father is boundless, unconditional, and deeply personal. It is a love that heals, restores, and assures us of our true worth, not because of what we do but because of who we are—His children. Unlike human love, which can be imperfect or conditional, the Father’s love is constant and unchanging. It meets us in our brokenness, offers forgiveness, and invites us to rest in the certainty that we are never alone or abandoned. Through His love, we find a secure identity, a sense of belonging, and the freedom to live fully as His beloved sons and daughters.

In this episode, Steve Smith is joined by Barry Adams, author of The Father’s Love Letter, to explore this transformative truth of God’s love as Father. Barry shares his personal journey of discovering the depth of this love, which reshaped his faith and inspired the creation of his renowned love letter—a resource that has touched millions around the globe. Together, Steve and Barry discuss how knowing God as Father brings rest to the weary, healing to the wounded, and clarity to those searching for their true identity. This conversation is for anyone longing to experience the fullness of God’s love, whether you are healing from wounds caused by earthly relationships or simply seeking to deepen your connection with Him. 

By listening to this episode, you’ll gain insights into moving from striving to resting, from an orphan mindset to sonship, and from uncertainty to peace. It concludes with a powerful reading of The Father’s Love Letter, a beautiful reminder of God’s unchanging affection for you. Prepare to feel inspired, affirmed, and deeply loved.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:

1. Gain a deeper appreciation for God’s unconditional love as a Father and how it can bring rest, healing, and a renewed sense of identity.
2. Understand how wounds from earthly relationships can affect your perception of God and discover practical ways to overcome those barriers.
3. Learn how embracing sonship and rejecting an orphan mindset can lead to peace, purpose, and a life rooted in God’s love.

Resources

• Live from Rest Podcast: Apple Podcasts | Spotify 
• Live from Rest App: Google Play | App Store
• Barry Adams: Facebook
• The Father's Love Letter: Website 
• FatherHeart.tv: Website 

Episode Highlights

The Origin and Impact of "The Father's Love Letter"

Barry: “When I remember who I am and remember that I’m loved; remember that I have a Father in heaven who is for me, and he has promised to provide for me and protect me and to care for me, and my future is secure in his care… then I just like the prodigal son, turn towards home again.”

• The origin of "The Father's Love Letter," started as a sermon illustration in 1999.
• The letter was inspired by a deeper revelation of God as a loving father, not just a distant figure.
• Barry recounts a touching story of a young girl who found comfort in the letter, emphasizing its impact on people's lives.
• Our relationship with our earthly fathers is a key point in perceiving God as Father.

Understanding God as Father

• People face the challenge of understanding God as Father due to their experiences with their earthly fathers.
• Encountering God's love is just as important — if not more so — than just having a theological understanding.
• We should ask God to dismantle misconceptions about a father's love; The reach of God’s love is global, and all people join in the universal cry for a loving father.

Jesus as the Perfect Expression of God's Love

• Jesus came to bring us home to the Father, as stated in John 14:6, and demonstrated God's love through His actions and teachings.
• We should look at Jesus’s life through a lens of God’s love.

Barry: “There's a cry of the human heart that after Jesus said in John 14:6. ‘I am the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one comes to the Father, but through Me.’ In verse eight, his disciples, Thomas and Philip, are talking to them, and they say, ‘Show us the Father, and it will be enough.’”

• Some people live as orphans despite being children of God.

Living as Children of God

• Jesus promised not to leave us as orphans and that we are adopted into God's family.
• He emphasizes that we are not just impersonally adopted but truly fathered by God.

Steve: “The essence of being a Christian is to discover that you're a child, you're a son or a daughter of God.”

• Barry himself had a personal journey of overcoming orphan tendencies and embracing his identity as a son of God.
• Discovering your identity as a child of God is essential for a fulfilling Christian life.

The Father's Love Letter Reading

• An excerpt from "The Father's Love Letter" emphasizes God's love and care for His children.
• It highlights God's creation of humanity, His intimate knowledge of each person, and His desire to lavish love on them.
• The letter reassures listeners of God's provision, hope for the future, and His role as a comforting father.
• The Father is always sending us an invitation to come home to God's love and the promise of eternal life.

About Barry Adams

Barry Adams is the creator of The Father’s Love Letter, a globally recognized collection of scriptures that communicates the deep and unconditional love of God as a Father. Originally crafted as a sermon illustration in 1999, this heartfelt message has since been translated into over 115 languages and continues to resonate with millions worldwide. Barry’s journey of discovering God’s fatherhood transformed his faith and inspired him to share this revelation, helping countless individuals experience healing, rest, and a renewed sense of identity in God’s love.

With over two decades of ministry rooted in the Father’s heart, Barry has dedicated his life to helping others encounter God in a deeply personal way. Through his website, Fatherheart.tv, and other resources, Barry shares teachings and reflections designed to dismantle misconceptions about God and draw people closer to His love. His passion is to guide others from an orphan mindset to the freedom and peace of sonship, reminding them that they are cherished simply because they are His children. Barry’s work remains a powerful tool for spiritual transformation, offering hope to all who seek to rest in the embrace of their Heavenly Father.

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