From Orphaned to Fathered (Those Who Dream Part 3)
Restored: From Orphaned to Fathered
“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” — Luke 19:10 (ESV)
Every person carries a unique experience with their earthly father—some full of love and support, others marked by absence or pain. But no matter our background, each of us is created with a deep, spiritual longing to know God as our Father.
For many, Jesus is easy to connect with as Savior and Friend. We celebrate His love, His grace, His sacrifice. But when it comes to relating to God as a Father—intimately, confidently, dependently—that connection can often feel distant or even painful.
This message is about God's heart to restore that connection. It’s about the transformation that takes place when we move from a mindset of spiritual striving and scarcity to one of sonship, trust, and abundance in the Father’s house.
God the Restorer
The heart of God is restoration. It's who He is. From Luke 19, the story of Zacchaeus—a thief, an outcast—shows us this clearly. Zacchaeus climbs a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus. Jesus sees him, calls him by name, and invites Himself over. The result? Zacchaeus’ heart is undone. He repents and promises to restore what he stole—fourfold.
This encounter reveals something powerful: Jesus doesn’t demand repentance first—He gets close first. And in His presence, repentance flows, and restoration begins.
“If I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” — Luke 19:8 (ESV)
Because Satan is called a thief in scripture (John 10:10), and Zacchaeus—a literal thief—restored what he took, I believe we have the biblical right to ask God to restore what sin or the enemy has stolen in our lives.
Restoration is God's Nature
Psalm 126 says:
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.” — Psalm 126:1-2 (ESV)
We are in a season of restoration—a rising from disappointment and daring to dream again. Psalm 23 reminds us:
“He restores my soul.” — Psalm 23:3 (ESV)
Our God restores our souls—our mind, will, and emotions. And He restores our bodies, too. Everywhere Jesus went, healing followed. Blind eyes opened, the lame walked, the sick were made whole. Why? Because healing is in the nature of the Restorer.
Even deeper still, Jesus came to restore our spirits—to bring us back into relationship with the Father.
The Orphan Mindset vs. Sonship
In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of two sons—one rebellious, one self-righteous. Both miss the heart of their father.
The younger son says, “Give me my inheritance,” leaves home, squanders everything, and ends up starving.
The older son, still at home, is bitter and says, “You never gave me anything.”
Both are operating from an orphan mindset. One in rebellion, the other in resentment. Yet the father meets both with the same truth: “All that is mine is yours” (Luke 15:31 ESV).
The orphan spirit revolves around scarcity, lack, and striving. But the Father’s house is marked by abundance.
Signs of the Orphan Mindset
Ask yourself:
Do I often feel like I don’t have enough?
Do I struggle to be content?
Do I find myself grumbling more than giving thanks?
Do I find it hard to connect with God as a Father?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these, you’re not alone. For many of us—especially those with complicated relationships with our earthly fathers—this is a journey. But God wants to restore that connection.
Restored Fourfold
After years of struggling to connect with God as my Father, I asked Him for restoration—fourfold, like Zacchaeus. We already had three sons and a daughter, and when our fifth child came—a fourth son—it was like God saying, “I’ve heard your prayer. I want you to know what it means to be fathered—fourfold.”
God is better than we know. His restoration is personal. And it’s available.
Reflection Questions
Where in your life do you feel like something has been stolen or lost? Have you asked God to restore it?
Do you recognize areas where you're living with an orphan mindset—striving, complaining, or feeling disconnected from God's abundance?
What would it look like to let God re-father you in this season—restoring your soul, your body, and your spirit?