Human Needs*
Safety
Unconditional Love
Affirmation
Purpose
Frost, Jack and Trisha,
Shiloh Place Ministries
Orphan
Orphan - Biblical definition:
“Comfortless one”
Living as orphans or comfortless ones is living with unresolved unmet needs – either without a family, or in the midst of a family system. This can be seen in our anxiety levels, and by the unhealthy roles we take on to try and be accepted, loved, and welcome in our own families.
There are over 200,000 orphans in the world today
The effect of physical Orphanhood in children •Vulnerability to confusion, anxiety, depression, and behavioral/psychiatric disorders •Failure to thrive and actual physical growth stunted Johnson et al., (2011)
•Perceived lack of control leading to feeling of helplessness
•Ongoing inner longing and hope for love and sense of belonging
•Pleasure connected to life, love, joy and happiness is numbed Dr. Judith Arndell, Psy.D.
•Lack of Identity
Identity
Where does identity come from??
In the World:
Occupation
Economic Status Sexual
Disease Religion Activity Victim Physical
Family Role Past
Illness
Material things
Just as children with absent genetic fathers have identity issues, (Terwogt et al., 2002) so will we without the truth from our heavenly Father about who we are.
In the Family of God: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba Father”
Romans 8:14-16
God: The Perfect Parent
In Him, we are adopted and can have our needs met
• John 14:15-18 “I will not leave you as orphans, but
14:15will send the Holy Spirit (The Comforter) to be with you and in you.”
• Hosea 14:3 “In you the orphan finds mercy
• Psalm 68:5-6 “A father to the fatherless, a
68:5defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God
sets
References: Passmore, Nola L. (2004) Adoption and the Father Heart of God: helping adoptees deal with Issues of identity and loss Penny, J., Borders, L., & Portnoy, F. (2007). Reconstruction of Adoption Issues: Delineation of Five Phases Among Adult Adoptees van Hekkenn (2002). Identity problems related to absent genetic father http://www.zeitschrift-fuer-familienforschung.de/pdf/2002-3-terwogt.pdf