5 Ways to Love Your Prodigal through the Hurt
Parenting
Audio By Carbonatix
5:48 AM on Friday, January 9
By Jennifer Waddle, Parenting
1. Love Who They Were Created to Be
The deeper you get into your prodigal's journey, the more you lose sight of who your child was created to be. Their hurtful decisions can easily cloud the young man or woman created in the image of God for a holy purpose. That's why it's important to remember Ephesians 2:10, which says, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Let this become a life verse for you as you peel back the layers of compromise and get back to the core of who your child was created to be. Rest your heart on God's perfect plan for them and pray for His will to be done. Here are more verses assuring you of God's purpose:
"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21)
"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." (Job 42:2 ESV)
"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." (Ephesians 1:4-6)
Sometimes, taking a step back from current circumstances and remembering God's initial plan for your child can help restore hope for their future. Love who they were created to be and hold fast to God's promises through every hurt.
Lord, please help me see my child as You see them. Remind me of Your good, pleasing, and perfect will for their lives, and restore my hope today. In Jesus' holy name, amen.
2. Love Through Forgiveness
I can't emphasize enough the importance of forgiveness for your prodigal. Keep in mind it isn't a one-time thing, but a process of forgiving over and over again. Each time an offense comes, take it directly to the Father asking for His help to forgive.
Admit the areas where you struggle to show compassion and pray for the Holy Spirit's discernment. Forgiving your prodigal doesn't mean you go along with their decisions or agree to their lifestyle choices. It does, however, mean you've made peace in your heart through Christ and are faithfully loving them through forgiveness.
Colossians 3:13 says, "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." The best way to bear with your child is to forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. This keeps our hearts tender, reminding us that we, too, were once living apart from God, but we were forgiven and saved by His grace.
Lord, with Your help, I sincerely choose to forgive my child. I release them to You and ask that You draw them near unto salvation. In Jesus' mighty name, amen.
3. Love with Calm Truth
Remaining calm in prodigal situations is challenging, especially when we see our kids running into dangerous situations. However, harsh words rarely reach our prodigal's ears and usually push them even further from the truth.
Having a spirit of calmness, love, and compassion can go a long way in reaching our children's hearts for Christ. Even if they don't respond immediately, they'll hopefully ponder what we've said and allow small seeds of faith to take root. Here are some encouraging Bible verses to help you love calmly:
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:1-2)
When tensions are high, give yourself time and space to work out your grievances with the Lord. Ask Him to soften your heart and calm your mind. Focus on the lovingkindness of God's patience, leading to repentance. "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4)
Lord, I'm struggling to remain calm in all the hurt and anger caused by my child's decisions. Please help me rest in You, trusting You to accomplish what I cannot. Thank You for Your patience leading to repentance. In Jesus' name, amen.
4. Love in the Secret Place
Loving our prodigals openly can be tricky, especially if we're temporarily estranged. However, loving them in the secret place can cover a multitude of sins. This includes thanking God for His faithfulness, interceding for them daily, and embracing God's truth over the lies of the enemy.
Time spent in intercession is never time wasted. It might be the only lifeline we have at the moment. Choosing to trust God through the hurt is one of the most loving things we can do. It keeps us centered on Christ, faithful in prayer, and hopeful for our child's return.
In Matthew 6:6, Jesus said, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
When possible, love your prodigal openly, but don't forget to love them in secret as well. Trust the Father to reward your faithfulness, giving you the desire of your heart for your child.
Lord, You know every spoken and unspoken prayer. Thank You for leading me to that secret place to commune with You and pour out the petitions of my heart. I trust You with my prodigal, in Jesus' holy name.
5. Love with God's Great Love
When struggling to show love and compassion, rely on God's great love to get you through. Be honest with the Lord about your feelings and ask for His love to flood your soul with grace. Meditate on the Scriptures that emphasize God's love, such as:
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." (1 John 4:16)
Don't be too hard on yourself when love doesn't come naturally. Acknowledge your hurt and admit your struggles to God. Ask Him to fill you with genuine love once again, and believe He will!
Lord, I am weary in the struggle and need Your great love to cover me. As I abide in You, I know You abide in me. Please reveal Your love to my prodigal today, drawing them to Your side. In Jesus' precious name, amen.
