In the past few months I have talked with many parents at conferences who have heavy hearts, because they have a wayward child. Just this past week, I had lunch with a dear lady whose heart is breaking because of a wayward son. It is a very difficult thing for parents, but there are truths a wayward child teaches us.
I was going through a folder of notes I’ve taken at various times and places, and want to share the following list that my Pastor gave in a sermon. These are encouraging thoughts of what we can learn from a prodigal or wayward child.
PRECIOUS TRUTHS A WAYWARD CHILD TEACHES US
1. A wayward child is no surprise to God.
Everyday of our life was written in His book.
2. A wayward child is an opportunity for God to see our response to Him.
He loves to see what a situation produces in us. God orchestrates every event in our life, and He waits to see our response. Where do we turn?
3. A wayward child drives us to pray for what we may think is impossible. (Jeremiah 33:3)
When something seems absolutely inhumanly possible, when it happens, God gets credit.
4. A wayward child opens to us a situation where only God can encourage us.
David didn’t try to go it alone. In I Samuel 30:6 it says that he encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
5. A wayward child fills us with hope because we can remember that God is never through with us as long as we live.
He’s never through with us; He’s the God of new beginnings.
6. A wayward child reminds us that we have a perfect heavenly Father, when we see our own imperfections mirrored by our children.
7. A wayward child humbles us as we remember how often we have failed our children, and failed to respond correctly to our heavenly Father.
We expect perfection from our kids to our imperfections, though God perfectly parents us and we respond wrong to him.
I hope these truths will encourage those who have a wayward child to say: I will never give up on you, for God will never give up on me.”
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Really no matter if someone doesn’t know then its up to other people that they will assist, so here it happens.
Elsabie, I know that can be so heart breaking! Don’t ever give up on them – keep praying and claiming God’s promises! If He can change the heart of a king, He can change their hearts!
Hi Kathie
I really appreciate this article about the prodigals. I have two very precious children, two children-in-law as well as two grandchildren. All of whom now walk a road, or act as those precious souls who are not yet saved and delivered. I tend to struggle with the very heart sore issue of seeing and hearing them so ‘left out’ of the inner circle of being wrapped up in His awesome presence, the safest place they can ever be. They are dedicated to the Lord, many prophecies spoken over their lives, that I know without a doubt that it was indeed the Lord who spoke over their lives.
Sometimes when I realize the times we live in and see the waves of the Spirit of God so busy rolling through lives of others who never even served the Lord and hardly ever prayed for their children, then I feel desperate that the Lord will reveal Himself to our prodigals as well and save and deliver them from the things of the world and the deceptions of satan. I desire with all of my heart that they will turn back to the Lord with their whole heart and serve Him as He desires of each of us.
I have a dear friend whose heart is breaking over her “prodigal” daughter., so she and I have talked a lot and prayed a lot over it.
We have to really lean into the Lord during those times! Thanks for linking up to the “Making Your Home Sing Monday” linky party! 🙂
I’ve had some of my arrows wobble (but none gone astray, as of this point) so I am quite familiar with the deep pain. I know that sounds a bit odd, but when you’re going through a difficult time with a child, it is very heart-rending.
To me, it seemed that The Lord used that time of deep heartache and burden to rub my heart completely raw…it drew me into a deep sensitivity to Him! Every thought, every motive, and every minute came under His intense but loving scrutiny, and I am grateful for it.
Though the trials of life can be almost unbearable, I would not trade the closeness with The Lord for anything.
Thanks for the great post!
These are such helpful encouragements even to a mom of younger children who fears one day she’ll have to deal with this heartache. Thank you for sharing these great points.