“When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me” (Ps. 27:10 NKJ).
This verse has a wide range of possibilities. The word forsake stands at the farthest end of the word scale. It implies complete desertion, absolute rejection, total abandonment.
“Even if my own parents totally reject and desert me,” the psalmist declares, “I can still make it in life because the Lord will take care of me.” As tragic and regrettable as it is, parental neglect does not have to spell the end for a person.
No one is destined to failure just because his parents failed in their duty to love and provide for him as they should have. Despite an unhappy past, the Lord still has a great future planned for that individual, an even greater one than his parents could ever have devised or provided.
But how do you share this verse with a person if his parents are present? How can you minister healing to the offspring without offending or hurting the parents?
In order to minister to such people, the Lord allows me to share with them this modified version of this verse: “If my parents wanted to do things for me and were not able to, the Lord will take care of it. If there were things I needed that they could not provide, my God will meet that need. If they were not able to give me everything they would have liked to, my Father will make up those things to me in later life.”
This interpretation gives assurance to the person that all voids in his life will be filled, without seeming to judge or condemn either his past life or his parental upbringing. It comforts him, yet allows him and his parents to keep their dignity.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.