Reprinted with permission from www.achristianhome.org

Do you watch at the window?

Do you stand at the door?

Do you wait by the silent phone?

You are not alone in keeping the candle burning for your young or old wayward child to come down the lane and back into your life or back to faith in the Lord Jesus. You are not alone as you daily wait at the gates of heaven in prayer for your prodigal child.

Fathers and mothers of prodigals have very much in common; and, incidentally, most all prodigals or wayward’s are very similar in the sense that they, at some point in time, made a decision to go their own way. Either mentally, physically or both. Now, the ways or methods of prodigals may be very different, but most prodigals take their first step on the long, long prodigal road with a simple “you can’t make me” attitude or action. In defying parents, the prodigals defy God.

The Wayward Road

The pretty lures of the world entice prodigals in different ways. As children grow older, the lure of radio, television, internet, friends, etc., etc., becomes stronger and brighter. Forbidden fruit is usually in the hand of a friend who is not likely fully welcome or accepted in the family home. The first steps are so innocuous that they’re often missed or dismissed by trusting parents. These little steps over the line, in time, become giant leaps and it’s often the giant leap that catches the surprised attention of parents. The impetus to these little side steps is so varied, but down the road, parents of prodigals look back and can generally pin point the beginning of the slide — the beginning of the wayward road.

Some wayward’s or prodigals begin drifting into music, computer games, online communities, friends and so on. Then, once stepping outside the bounds of home and authority, they’re lured by freedom and independence and generally a shroud of secrecy. Some are led astray by lies, by drugs — some by alcohol, and some by crime. They seem to emotionally disconnect or close out all Truth. And usually when this occurs, they’ve erected walls that seemingly cannot be scaled – either by them (to return) or by parents seeking to bring them back home. The pain is seemingly unbearable for the parents and even for the prodigal; though the pain for the prodigal is different: it’s a gnawing, wasting pain.

As opposed to true prodigals or runaways, there’s another quasi prodigal or quasi wayward, these are: physically present prodigals or physically present wayward’s. They may still be at the table most meal times, still have a bed or a bedroom in the home, may even contribute something to the family and home, still have a seat in the family van, still occupy a seat in the church, but these have closed their hearts and minds to Truth, they are closed to Jesus, they generally have a very secret “other-life” or “other-self.”

I seek to offer encouragement to stay still in the Hand of the Potter. Be still and know that He is God…He will be exalted among the heathen, He will be exalted in the earth. Cling to the hem of His garment. Cling to the Hand of the LORD who is only Faithful. Trust in His Word. Hold onto His promises. Be instant in prayer, filled with thanksgiving…Trust in His promises:

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22.6

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2009

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