The Battery Dad: Quiet Faithfulness and the Power to Keep Going

This Father’s Day, I found myself thinking about batteries. Not just because we gave them out at church (yes, really—we did!), but because they’re such a strange little metaphor for fatherhood, faithfulness, and following Jesus.

We’re used to giving flowers on Mothering Sunday—something bright, beautiful, and fragrant. But when it comes to Father’s Day, I reckon most dads would prefer something practical. Something useful. Something that powers the TV remote.

So this year, I gave out AA batteries in church.

Why Batteries?

I showed a classic Duracell advert during the service—you know, the one with the bunny that keeps going long after all the others have stopped. Because that’s how being a dad often feels: like you need an unlimited supply of energy just to keep up with life.

• Early morning swimming lessons.

• Late night birthday party pick-ups.

• Nappy changes, financial worries, life admin, emotional load...

It’s exhausting. Beautiful, meaningful, joyful... but exhausting. The truth is, even Duracell batteries run out eventually. And so do we.

And that’s where Joseph comes in.

The Dad Who Gets Overlooked

We don’t often read Matthew 1 and 2 in June. It feels a bit too Christmassy. But for Father’s Day, I wanted us to take a fresh look at Joseph—Jesus’ earthly dad. He’s one of those characters in the Bible who gets very little airtime. We don’t have a single word he spoke recorded in Scripture. But what we do have is a man of quiet, steady, deeply faithful obedience.

Faced with what looked like betrayal, Joseph was merciful. He planned to divorce Mary quietly—to protect her from disgrace and, potentially, from being stoned. But when God sent a message through an angel in a dream, Joseph changed course completely. He obeyed. No fanfare. No arguments. He just did what God asked.

Later, he obeys again—taking Mary and Jesus to Egypt to protect them from Herod. No drama. No spotlight. Just faithful action.

Mercy and Obedience

Two things strike me about Joseph:

1. He showed mercy when he didn’t have to.

2. He obeyed even when it cost him something.

That combination of compassion and obedience is quietly radical. He might not have led armies like David, or brought fire from heaven like Elijah, or preached to crowds like Peter. But Joseph saved Jesus’ life—twice. And he did it in a way that almost nobody noticed.

Faithfulness That Isn’t Flashy

We live in a world obsessed with platform, recognition, and visibility. But Joseph reminds us that it’s possible to be vitally important without being the centre of attention. He was the kind of man who just kept going. Quietly doing the right thing. Showing up. Providing. Protecting.

Like a battery.

Essential. Overlooked. Invisible—until something stops working.

I think a lot of dads (and mum-equivalents, and carers, and godparents, and mentors...) need to hear that. You don’t have to be flashy to be faithful. You don’t need a stage to make a difference. Sometimes the holiest thing you can do is just... keep going.

The Power Source

And here’s the good news: you don’t have to power yourself. You’re not the Duracell Bunny. You’re not supposed to be. Even the strongest parents, leaders, friends—every one of us runs low eventually. But God our Father never runs out.

He’s the one who recharges us—not with volts and wires, but with love, mercy, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

So this Father’s Day, I gave out batteries as a reminder. Not that we have to keep pushing through at all costs—but that we can keep going because God gives strength to the weary. That even when we’re knackered, invisible, or just getting through the day, God sees us. And he’s right there with us.

Recharging. Sustaining. Empowering us to keep loving the people he’s given us.

A Final Word

If your experience of fatherhood—whether being a dad or having one—is joyful, painful, confusing, or all of the above, know this: God is your Father too. And he’s better than even the best earthly dad. He’s the One who never sleeps, never leaves, and always shows up.

So whether you’re celebrating or grieving or just trying to make it through another day, may God—your Good Good Father—give you strength.

And maybe, next time you pick up the TV remote, say a little prayer of thanks for the quiet power of faithfulness.