A Prayer for Wayward Children and Grandchildren
By Christine F. Perry
Bible Reading: "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" - Jeremiah 32:27 NKJV
"Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." - Genesis 18:14 NKJV
Listen or Read Below:
I sat with a group of women who began to pour out their hearts about their situations. Several of them talked about their wayward children and grandchildren. Regardless of whether you have children, I am sure there is someone you know who has walked away from the Lord: a spouse, a sibling, a family member, a friend. It hurts because you want to share everything with them, and yet there seems to be an underlying tension in the relationship because you can't connect on a spiritual level, and sometimes you skirt the topic altogether.
If you have spent any number of hours, days, or years praying for them, you can also feel hurt by the Lord. You may wonder, "Do you hear me?" "Are you listening?" "Do you even care?"
On this side of eternity, we won't have all the answers, but one thing we can be certain of is that God is faithful (Lamentations 3:22-23). The Lord hears you (Psalm 4:3). He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He is for us and not against us (Romans 8:31). He is always at work (John 5:17).
Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
We don't know what is going on in the hearts and minds of those we love. God doesn't ask us to know, but God does say to ask, seek, knock, and pray without ceasing. This is a lot easier said than done because praying year after year after year without seeing the desired outcome is hard. But we can trust the Lord. If you're struggling to trust him with your children and grandchildren, remember you're human. You will struggle to trust, but we can also pray and ask God for his help to trust him.
In the meantime, I want to share this song with you: Running Back to You.
Let's Pray:
Dear Lord,
Thank you that no matter what is going on in our child or grandchild’s life, you are still in control. You know their thoughts, their intents, and exactly where they are geographically, mentally, and spiritually. God, we know that no matter how far away they run, you can reach them.
Lord, I pray for (fill in the blank). Please reach out to them in such a way that there's no denying you are trying to get a hold of their life. Lord, make them miserable until they wholly surrender to you. I ask for your mercy and grace upon them. Thank you that you know exactly how much they can take and how much we can take to make us the women and men you want us to become.
Father, like you used Jonah to pursue the people of Nineveh, please pursue this child or grandchild. Please stop at nothing until they are yours. Lord, we know you don't need us. Help us to trust you with them, knowing that you are able. Lord, make me the woman or man you want me to be. Even though I don't always like some of the things I have had to go through, thank you for using all things to keep me dependent and close to you. Thank you for loving me enough to die on the cross for me and loving me enough to continue to have an ongoing relationship with you. I do not deserve it. Help my loved one to know how much you love them, too. I pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Photo Credit: © Pexels/Ethan Jones
Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine's work at her website: Learning to be fearless and her Patreon.
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