Last night, as I was washing the dishes and winding the house down, I began reflecting on my day. In that quiet moment, the Lord gently flashed images of different fathers I had seen throughout the day. I smiled and said, “Oh, thank you, Jesus—for my Dad and for You,” then continued on with my thoughts.
But then, He brought those images of fathers back to my mind again. That’s when I paused and said, “Okay Lord, You’re trying to show me something—let me listen.”
Suddenly, I began to hear negative phrases in my mind about dads—words I’ve heard before or sensed in others. I saw the faces of fatherless friends from my childhood and felt their lingering resentment. I saw the disappointment etched on the faces of mothers who were left to carry the weight alone. And the last image was of a father with his head and shoulders slumped in defeat.
It was in that moment the Lord began to minister to me about fathers—their struggles, their burdens, their importance, and the deep spiritual war against their role. What He showed me not only stirred compassion in me, but also brought a fresh understanding and honor for fatherhood.
Every year on Father’s Day, we honor and appreciate the men who’ve shaped our lives. But in the background of this celebration, there’s also a very real, often overlooked spiritual battle being fought—a war against
- Legacy — what’s passed down
- Love — emotional security and identity
- Leadership — spiritual covering and order
It’s a war the enemy has been waging since the beginning, and the target is clear: fathers!
Now hear me clearly—this isn’t a Father-bashing article.
It’s not a "Me Too, My Daddy Ain’t Nothing" (rolling my neck and head) sob story filled with bitterness or blame. That’s not the spirit of this at all.
Being a 4-eyed gal, I like to think of this more like a spiritual eye exam.
Sometimes, we don’t realize how blurry our vision is until someone puts the right lens in front of our eyes—and suddenly, everything becomes clear. That’s what this is. It’s about seeing fatherhood—both the beauty and the brokenness—through the lens of God’s heart.
When we understand the weight of the spiritual war against fathers, we can better navigate our own lives with wisdom, healing, and intentionality. We can lead our families with clarity instead of confusion, love instead of resentment, and legacy instead of pain.
This is about being aware, having compassion, and restoration—so that we don’t repeat cycles blindly, but walk forward with truth.
The Enemy’s Strategy: Attack the Father, Break the Family
I once heard a pastor say something that has stayed with me:
"If the enemy can get the man astray, he’ll lead the woman astray, and the children follow."
Now when this was said this it was pertaining to marriage, husbands and wives but this quote ties into this topic as well.
We see it everywhere. Generational pain, absent fathers, emotionally unavailable dads, or even great men who are just mentally withdrawn or spiritually tired. And it’s not by accident—it’s a strategy.
When Satan wants to shake a family or a community, he doesn’t start with the children—he starts with the man. Why?
Because fatherhood carries legacy, love, and leadership. All three are mirrors of God the Father. If he can distort that reflection, it becomes harder for people to trust, love, and follow their Heavenly Father.
1.Legacy Under Fire
Legacy is more than money or property. It’s identity, values, and generational blessing. Proverbs 13:22 says,
“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…”
But if a father is missing or unhealed, the family line can suffer. Cycles of poverty, insecurity, father wounds, rebellion, and confusion are often the result of a man’s absence or silence. The enemy tries to cut off the legacy flow at the root.
The enemy fights legacy by:
- Causing abandonment — Fathers who leave, leaving children to grow up without identity or direction
- Planting shame and brokenness — So men feel unworthy to father well
- Normalizing dysfunction — So broken homes become expected, not confronted
- Distracting fathers from discipleship — so faith isn’t passed on to the next generation
·
Here’s something important to note:
When we talk about identity, we’re not referring to the confusion the world pushes today.
We’re talking about true identity—the kind that’s rooted in who you are and whose you are.
A child learns who they are by knowing their father.
Just like a prince understands his worth and royalty by knowing his father, the king—a child gains confidence, value, and purpose through relationship with their father.
And when that relationship is broken, missing, or strained, it often creates a silent search:
➤ Who am I?
➤ Am I loved?
➤ Do I have what it takes?
That’s why the enemy targets the father. Because when he confuses or removes the earthly example, it’s easier to distort how we view our Heavenly Father—and ourselves.
2. Love Withheld or Broken
A father’s love teaches children who they are. It builds emotional safety, trust, and confidence. When love is absent or harsh, many children grow up feeling rejected, anxious, or unworthy of love—and they often project those feelings onto God.
That’s why the enemy tries to:
- Make fathers cold or emotionally unavailable
- Use shame to keep men from expressing love
- Create division in marriages and homes
But here’s the truth: God’s love never fails. Even if your earthly father missed the mark, your Heavenly Father never will (Psalm 27:10). He steps in to love, restore, and affirm what was lost.
3. Leadership Undermined
Fathers were designed to lead—not with domination, but with love, wisdom, patience, and strength. But that leadership is constantly under attack.
The enemy breaks down leadership by:
- Whispering disqualification — “You’ve failed too much to be the leader.”
- Overloading men with shame — So they retreat instead of rising
- Distracting with work, success, or lust — So they neglect spiritual leadership
- Instilling passivity — Just like Adam stood silent while Eve was deceived (Genesis 3:6)
“He’s physically present, but spiritually passive.”
When leadership is missing or misused, chaos fills the home. And that confusion filters into churches, communities, and generations. It becomes hard for people to follow God’s order when they’ve never seen it.
But God raises up kingdom men who love like Jesus, lead like Jesus, and lay down their lives for their families. And when that happens—the devil loses ground.
The truth is, we as people cannot fully be all that we are truly meant to be; Unless we have a continuous relationship with God. In other words —you can’t truly be the father you were created to be without God.
Man was never meant to carry the full weight of fatherhood—the responsibility, the pressure, the leadership—alone. That role was designed to flow from God’s strength, not human effort.
It’s only through a relationship with the Heavenly Father that a man receives:
- The wisdom to lead
- The grace to forgive and grow
- The patience to nurture
- The love to cover his family well
“I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5 (NIV)
Without God, fatherhood can become a burden.
With God, fatherhood becomes a calling—and a joy.
A wonderful thing to know: It’s Not Just Biological Fathers
Although I’ve been very blessed with a present and loving daddy, I can’t overlook the impact of my uncles. Each of them, in their own way, has poured something meaningful into me.
That’s the beautiful thing about God—even if a father is absent or limited, He often raises up others to stand in the gap. Uncles, grandfathers, brothers, mentors, coaches, pastors, and godly men may not always carry the title "Dad," but they carry the heart of the Father.
To every man who’s stepped in to love, guide, correct, or cover—thank you.
Your presence matters.
Your love is powerful.
You are a part of breaking cycles and building legacies.
To the Fathers: It's Not Too Late
If you're a father reading this and you feel like you've messed up—please hear this: God restores.
You can become the father your children need. If you’ve been distant, or unsure how to lead—you’re not disqualified. The goodness of God is strong enough to turn your story around. Even if the past is messy, your future doesn’t have to be. The truth is - We’ve all fallen short. (Romans 3:23) None of us get it all right. But the grace of God is strong enough to meet you, right where you are and help you become the father you were created to be. Start with repentance, humbling yourself, and asking God to help you lead in His strength. Your love, your words, your prayers—they still carry weight.
Here’s where to start:
- Repent. Receive God's forgiveness and strength. Then move forward!
- Be present. Show up consistently—even if it’s awkward at first. (Some things take time)
- Speak life. Your words are powerful. (As a father your words carry tremendous weight)
- Lead spiritually. Even if it’s one prayer or one scripture a day—start small but stay faithful. – Let God work everything else out.
Something I’ve learned from experience it’s not about being perfect. It’s about being present and willing.
To the Grown Kids with Father Wounds
If you’ve been hurt, rejected, or abandoned by your father, I see you—But most importantly so does God. The pain is real. But don’t let that pain become your prison.
Healing starts by building a relationship with your Heavenly Father. Spend time in His Word. Talk to Him. Let Him reparent your heart. That way, you don’t unintentionally repeat or enable the same broken cycles in your own family.
Generational curses are real—but so is generational blessing. You can be the one who turns the tide; and walk in true freedom. But it’s up to YOU!
If Your Father Is No Longer Here — and There Was No Closure
For some, the pain runs deeper—not just because your father is gone, but because the chapter never felt finished.
Maybe there were words never spoken… hugs never given… forgiveness never exchanged.
That kind of grief can be complicated. But even in that ache, God sees you.
He knows the questions in your heart, the things left unsaid, and the healing you still need.
Take comfort in this:
Your healing doesn’t depend on their (Your earthly dad) presence.
God can give you peace, healing, and even closure in His presence. He can untangle the emotions and fill in every missing piece.
Let your Heavenly Father restore what feels broken, so that you can move forward in freedom and not unknowingly carry the same pain into the next generation.
Psalm 147:3 – “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Fathers matter—deeply. That’s why the enemy works so hard to destroy, divide, and discourage them.
But God is still restoring, still raising up his sons, and still rebuilding families.
So to every father, mentor, spiritual leader, or grown child:
· You can heal.
· You can lead.
· You can break the cycle.
· You can begin again.
Happy Father’s Day.
Here’s to restoring legacy, love, and leadership—God’s way!
With Love,
Jasmine Johnson