How I Saw Our Father's Love Through My Daughter's Eyes

On Friday night, I had to help my daughter face crippling anxiety and fear of heights at her first concert. I knew she was afraid of heights, but it never crossed my mind when we bought tickets on the balcony level.

My heart broke as I watched how terrified she was—knowing I couldn’t reason her out of it or convince her everything would be okay. Her fear was real and overwhelming, and all I could do was be present with her. We prayed over her, and our family and friends were praying too.

The usher was incredibly kind and let us stand in the walkway while we tried to calm her down. I was so proud of her for finally trusting me and letting me carry her to her seat. We watched the entire concert like this photo—her clinging to me for dear life—which made me sob once we sat down.

In that moment, I felt the Lord give me a glimpse of what it means to fully trust Him. The love and concern I had for my daughter didn’t even come close to how deeply He loves and cares for us.

At one point, she said, “I just can’t do it,” and I told her, “I know you can’t do it by yourself, but I can carry you through it.” And that’s when it hit me—wow, Lord. That’s what You want to do for us as our Father.

We often cling so tightly to fear that it paralyzes us because we truly can’t face it alone. We need God. And all the while, He’s patiently waiting for us to surrender so He can carry us through our trials, fears, and anxieties.

Her fear didn’t magically go away once we sat down, but she was able to endure because she knew she was safe in my arms. How much more true is that for us—those who are safe in our Heavenly Father’s arms? May we cling to Him so tightly and surrender our fears, knowing He alone can carry us and set us free. He cares for us far deeper than we could ever imagine.

Here are some encouraging verses to remind you that the Lord cares:

"3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" — Psalm 56:3-4, CSB

"11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." — Psalm 103:11-13, CSB