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By PASTOR BRANDON YOUNG
Research shows words of affirmation are of utmost importance in the lives of our children, and particularly significant coming from our fathers. Paternal affirmations play a vital role in the mental and emotional health of children. Affirmations are statements meant to affect our behavior and the course of our life in a positive way. Parents say a lot of things to their children over the course of a day. Parents give loads of correction, instruction, and warnings, but one thing that parents need to say more often for the well-being of their children are words of affirmation.
According to shepherdthoughts.com, “Fathers especially need to do this with their sons. This statement raises an important practical and relational point, in addition to important theological points. There is something powerful and important about telling your son, “I love you, and I am very pleased with you.” If you are a father, then you are also a son. And you know what I mean when I say that every son wants to hear these words from his father. He desperately wants to hear his father say, “I love you son.” And he desperately wants to hear him say, “I am pleased, very pleased with you son.” We know that God the Father provided us all with this example when he cried out from heaven during the baptism of His Son Jesus, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”
According to thegreatdadsproject.org, “Affirmation refers to verbal and written words of specific praise regarding our children’s character, decision-making, and treatment of others more than their appearance, achievement, or performance. To affirm means to declare something to be true. So, when you affirm your children, you declare what is true about them and for them. You declare what is true about their character and their potential. Your words, that is, your verbal or written expression of your high view of them, then become the basis of their self-awareness and identity. Your regular affirmation can actually neutralize all the negative messages the media and their peer group may be speaking to them. So, affirmation means stating our belief about what is true in and about our children and encouraging what we hope to be true as they grow. Affirmation is about creating the reality we envision in our children’s character and for their favorable future through our belief in them and our praise of them. Our affirmation helps our children believe they are smart, capable, and able to achieve whatever they set their good minds to.”
To be honest, everyone needs to hear words of affirmation. We are living in a difficult time, but when someone takes the time to text or call you just to say they love you, miss you, or have been thinking about you and are praying for you, it is very powerful and uplifting. I have received so many texts, calls, messages, and verbal expressions from friends and family during this difficult year. These human affirmations give me a glimpse into God’s love and concern for my well-being. Words are immensely powerful and hold life and death. We must speak life on to all those around us. Words of affirmation are a huge way to convey love, affection, respect, esteem, honor, and everything else good. That’s why God is into words of affirmation. He thinks you are great, and He’s beside Himself finding new ways to tell you so. God’s words of affirmation are all throughout the Bible. You can’t help but be affirmed by God when you read them.
Here are just a few passages of affirmation to those who are children of God.
Isaiah 43:1, “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” God reminds us here that we were created by Him and that we belong to Him. What a comfort that we are not facing this harsh and cruel world alone!
Isaiah 43:4-5a, “Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5 Fear not: for I am with thee:” Here we see that we are precious and loved by God and He will go to extreme measures to protect us. We do not need to fear because he is always with us! We have a Father who is glad to help His children.
1 John 3:1 — Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. We are sons and daughters of a King all because the Father was willing to give His only Son to die for our sins so we could be adopted in His family!
Psalm 139:17-18, “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” God the Father is continually thinking about each one of us! It is a comfort to me to know that I am on God’s mind! He sees my struggles, fears, disappointments, and my successes! He loves me unconditionally through it all!
The Word of God is full of words of affirmation for us all. God, our Father, wants us to know that he is glad we are a part of His Family. Nothing we ever do will make Him stop loving us, and He is proud of us! He smiles and sings with joy over each of us, and we are fearfully and wonderfully made! If God had a refrigerator, our photos would be on it. We need to read, repeat, and believe these affirmations daily and pass them along to all those around us. I challenge each of you to use words of affirmation and see the positive change it creates. I am thankful that each of you take time out of your busy schedules to read the Solution Column. May God continue to bless each of you.
(The Solution Column is provided by Pastor Brandon Young of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church, Hampton)