Dear hurting Momma whose child has gone astray, I pray for you! I know you never wanted to end up in this position. I can’t imagine how your heart hurts. Perhaps your child has not fully walked away from God yet, but you can see the tragedy on the horizon. Why won’t they listen to you? Why won’t they turn to you for help yet? This blog post is to encourage you, also. For the rest of us who don’t (yet) have children in these circumstances – read on, my friends! This post may come back to your heart one day when you need it most.
And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.
Jeremiah 32:33
Does this sound like something you have said before? You feel your child has turned their back on you and your teaching, and refused to heed the guidance and wisdom you so desperately wanted to impart into their hearts. It’s hurtful, and hard not to take it personally. You’re not alone. God said these very words above about His children in Israel and Judah. What you are going through is not something new. God has walked this road you are on before, and if you’re His child, he is walking it with you now. Lean into his presence!
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Matthew 23:37
This verse reiterates the fact that God gave multiple chances and opportunities for his children to turn back to him, but they refused. In fact, they went so far as to kill and stone those He sent unto them to try to warn them, rebuke them, and help bring them back “into the fold”. It is safe to say these were very hard-hearted, stiff-necked children, with no desire to do right.
Parents, the truth is, we can do everything “right”. We can live godly, and we can put God first. We can give our children the best of everything. At the end of the day it is up to those children to give their hearts and lives to God. They must have a desire to please Him, even over their desire to please themselves, us, or anyone else. All we can do is give our children to God and pray His will will be done in their lives.
It has to be in His time.
In the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-24, we know that a man’s son went off from his home to waste away his inheritance on riotous living. No doubt, this father we read about was broken hearted. He, in fact, assumed his son was dead when he had not returned for such a period of time. So what eventually made the son decide to return home? His father’s nagging? His friends and their peer pressure? Nope. It was a famine. A famine (which is a God allowed, God authorized draught and shortness of food) got his attention, and reminded him where he could always turn for help. A famine is God’s business. No man caused this prodigal son’s situation, which caused his heart to change. (Except perhaps the prayers of a father and a family!) When God moves in your wayward child’s life and heart, they will finally come back home. Our responsibility as parents is to pray, and be available, ready and waiting when that child has a change of heart. Not with judgement, but with arms wide open, showing them the love of Christ.
Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
Jeremiah 32:37-39
And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
Pray fervently for your children, Mamas. Those who seem to be doing well, and are in the middle of God’s will for their life, and those who have walked away from it all. God knows when you are hurting. God sees the children that need gentle reminders of your love, and His. He will provide, in his time.
