One of Satan’s biggest schemes is to have us walking around defeated. Most dads tell us they feel like failures—even the good ones! Yes, you’ve failed in the past. But you’re not a failure. God doesn’t disqualify you when you fail. If you’re in Christ, God’s call is to lead your family by pointing to Him. Look at Romans 5:8.

#1 God shows his love for us… God doesn’t just talk about love. He shows it. God’s not distant or removed, He’s involved and engaged. When you feel like life’s too hard or isn’t fair, Christ was sinless yet abandoned and tortured—none of it deserved. Sacrifice was His life. So, you can serve without complaint. You can listen during that next argument—in case you’re wrong! Prove your love today. Not because you have to—because you get to.

#2 While we were still sinners… You were and are a sinner. God meets you at your sin. If you feel disqualified by your past, don’t. God uses it. You can’t wait until you’re perfect to start being a godly dad. You’ll never start—which is exactly where Satan wants you.

#3 …Christ died for us. Jesus took your place on the cross. It’s literally NOT about you—it’s about HIM. Jesus gave up everything for you. That’s your calling to Him now—give up everything. Love isn’t a feeling—it’s a calling to give your life for Him.

Why Parent-Child Bonding Matters in Christian Homes: God made each of us in His image, and that means we are wired for relationships. Every human needs to make connections with other humans if we’re going to find purpose and meaning in life. As a parent, you realize that your kids are no exception. And, aside from God Himself, the strongest bond they need in this life is a close relationship with you. If you’re wondering why parent-child bonding is so important for Christian families, we’ve got some ideas that might help answer your questions.

Sammy Perez On Fatherhood After Failure: If you’ve ever felt like your past disqualifies you from leading your family well, Sammy’s story will shift your perspective. He opens up about discovering Jesus in a prison cell, finding a father figure of his own, and learning to lead with grace instead of guilt. His message is simple but profound: God’s not done with you—even if you’ve felt done with Him. For the dad haunted by past mistakes, this is a powerful reminder that failure isn’t final, and the legacy God wants to build through you may be just getting started.

Saint Augustine: “We count on God’s mercy for our past mistakes, on God’s love for our present needs, on God’s sovereignty for our future.”

Billy Graham: “Don’t let past mistakes keep you from seeking God.”

Failed, Not Failure. Remember, failure doesn’t determine your worth. Come out of hiding. Come to the light. Don’t disqualify yourself from leading your family simply because you’ve blown it in the past. God knew you before your first breath and loved you after your worst failure. Recall what God says about showing you love. Then, pray and live your calling—serve like Him. You can show Christ to your family by how you lead faithfully. God shows His love to you, so you can go be like Him.

Kent Evans
Author of Don’t Bench Yourself, co-founder of Manhood Journey

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.