Jerusha: I’m so pleased to welcome Andrea Merrell back to the FW Blog! She’s giving away a print copy of her nonfiction book, Praying for the Prodigal, to one of you! Simply leave a comment below to enter the giveaway.
By Andrea Merrell
Blue lights flashed as I made my way to the drive-thru line at a local fast-food restaurant. The gas station adjacent to the parking lot was roped off with tape and blocked by several police cars. I fought uneasiness and the urge to keep driving.
When I reached the window to pay for my food, I asked what was going on. Thinking there might have been a robbery, I was shocked to hear, “Young guy went in the bathroom, shot up, and OD’d.”
As I drove away, my heart broke and tears fell. I didn’t know the young man, but I grieved for him. For his friends and family. For all the young people caught up in this destructive lifestyle.
Perhaps my tears were also tears of joy and thankfulness. Whenever there is a senseless tragedy of this nature, fear raises its ugly head, and I hear these dreaded words: That could have been your kids.
And it almost was.
For over five years, both my son and daughter were caught up in a lifestyle of drugs and alcohol. My husband and I did everything we knew to raise them in a godly environment, and this was this last thing we ever expected to happen.
Statistics say eighty-eight percent of children raised in an evangelical Christian home will leave the church by the age of eighteen. Many will turn away from authority, parental values, and biblical teaching, losing their potential, their health, and their destiny—sometimes even their life.
We just never thought it could happen to us. Suddenly, we found ourselves dealing with not one but two prodigals. We had no idea what to do.
During those dark, dreadful days, there were tears, anger, frustration, exorbitant expenses, and many sleepless nights.
Fear was my greatest enemy.
Would my kids survive? Would they ever come back home? Because I blamed myself, guilt and condemnation caused me to doubt myself and even God. How could He possibly let this happen?
The truth is: even “good” kids rebel—and even “good” parents can end up with a prodigal.
Praying the Scriptures became my lifeline. It was only by God’s mercy and grace that my children made it through. There were many times they could have gone to jail, been critically injured, or even died.
Through this long journey, I learned God loves my kids even more than I do, and He is well-able to take care of them. And me.
My responsibility was and is to love them and pray His Word over them daily. Before I could do that with faith and confidence, I had to get my relationship with Him back on track by forgiving myself, forgiving my kids, and by learning to trust God with my whole heart.
My road was long, bumpy, and filled with potholes, but God was faithful. He protected my son and daughter, delivered them from drugs and alcohol, and restored them to a right relationship with Him and with our family.
The lessons we learned along the way were numerous. He gave us practical survival tips to keep our sanity in the midst of the crisis and taught us how to stand firmly upon His promises.
If you or someone you love is dealing with a prodigal, know that there is always hope and there is no need to fear. Take it from someone who has been there—and survived.
Do you fear for your children or other family members? Have you ever had a prodigal child or battled fear for your kids? Please share!
Photos by Warren Wong, Eric Ward, and Cristina Gottardi on Unsplash. Original graphics designed by Jerusha Agen.
Andrea Merrell is an award-winning author and professional freelance editor. She is an associate editor with Christian Devotions Ministries and LPC Books and was a finalist for the 2016 Editor of the Year Award at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference (BRMCWC) and the 2018 Excellence in Editing award by the Christian Editors Network. She teaches workshops on writing and editing at various writers’ conferences.
Andrea is a graduate of Christian Communicators and a finalist in the 2015 USA Best Book Awards and the 2018 Selah Awards, as well as a semi-finalist in the 2018 ACFW Genesis contest. She has been published in numerous anthologies, magazines, and online venues She writes a weekly devotion on her website at www.AndreaMerrell.com and is the co-founder and regular contributor to www.TheWriteEditing.com, a blog designed for writers. Andrea is the author of Murder of a Manuscript, Praying for the Prodigal, and Marriage: Make It or Break It.
Connect with Andrea on her website and on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Goodreads.
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Andrea is giving away one print copy of Praying for the Prodigal to one of you! Leave a comment below for your chance to win! (Winner will be randomly selected July 22, 2019; winner must have continental U. S. mailing address.)
Praying for the Prodigal
Praying for the Prodigal will give you practical survival tips such as establishing boundaries, avoiding the blame game, and learning how to pray the Word of God over your children daily.
You will be encouraged by advice straight from the former prodigals, and your faith will be strengthened by thirty days of prayers and Scriptures.
This book will equip you for the battle ahead and help you hold fast to God’s promises, reminding you to never give up on your children–no matter how hopeless the situation may seem.
Comments 30
Thank you so much for the timely encouragement, Andrea! Blessings.
My pleasure, Heidi. So glad you found the post encouraging. Blessings! 🙂
I think your book should be read by every parent! There’s almost always a prodigal in a family and it’s the most difficult issue to deal with! Thanks for sharing this with us! I have a brother who’s a prodigal and it’s not easy to help him. But God’s grace can touch every soul!
Thanks for sharing y
This with us! Blessings!
You’re so right, Paty, about the number of prodigals. I rarely go anywhere without running across someone with a prodigal in the family. Prayer is the key, especially when we are praying God’s Word. Blessings! 🙂
Thanks Andrea! You’re so right! Prayer is ALWAYS the answer! And we must never give up! He has asked us to never cease praying. God’s ways are mysterious at times, but He always knows best and has our backs! Hugs to you!
My husband and I have walked through very dark circumstances with a few of my four children. Didn’t sign up for any of it. But God’s design to change my heart in the process has been a cherished gift. Like the persistent widow of Luke 18:1 i will always pray for my wayward ones and never give up. Thanks for sharing your very understandable fears as a parent and the hope of God’s redemption.
Mary, you’re so right. God did an amazing work in my own heart during the waiting. Standing in faith is not easy, especially when it involves years and years. But God is faithful, His Word is true, and He tells us not to ever give up when we are praying and believing according to His Word. Thanks for sharing your heart. Blessings. 🙂
This post is truth! And I’ve lived it, too! Andrea’s book has pierced my darkness with great light. I’m very, very grateful for her words!
Thanks so much for your encouragement, Susan. Blessings to you! 🙂
Loved this article. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Melanie. My pleasure. Blessings! 🙂
I understand this fear so well… thank you for writing and encouraging us to keep praying for God’s Love is greater than our fear … hallelujah 🙌🏻
You’re right, Bonnie, God’s love is greater than our fear or any situation we face in this fallen world. Thanks for your comment. Blessings! 🙂
Thank for encouraging parents of prodigals
My pleasure, Paula. I find so many who need a dose of encouragement and hope. Blessings! 🙂
Andrea, the timing of this article is God ordained. We struggle with guilt over our proposal’s rebellious heart. I’m prayerful and expectant for a change.
Oh, April, I’m so glad for God’s timing. Don’t blame yourself or beat yourself up. Our prodigals’ choices are their own, not ours. God had to do some powerful work in me to get rid of the guilt and condemnation. Those mocking voices are not from God. He loves us and loves our wayward kids even more than we do. Don’t ever stop praying and believing. God is faithful. One single word from Him can change the entire course of someone’s life. Keep expecting that change, but know that God is working even when you can’t see the results. Blessings to you, my friend. 🙂
I have a few who have wandered away to live life on their own terms. For some, it’s been years of addiction. I often think their story will end like the young man’s in the gas station bathroom, but I keep praying. My granddaughter’s addiction has placed her beautiful newborn daughter in our arms for safe keeping. One of God’s answers that we did not expect. It has allowed us to not only love sweet, little Baby J but also her mama and daddy in a way they need the most right now. God works in ways we do not understand. Much of the time prayer does not change the circumstances but it does change our hearts. That’s the story of redemption after all. Thank God we get to be part of it. Thanks for your post.
Patty, I am so moved by your story. What a gift and a blessing for you to have that sweet baby in your care. I see this happen so much. Several years ago, one of my friends took in her five grandchildren because of drug and alcohol abuse by both the mother and the father. The young mother has since passed away, but the father is doing great. My son and daughter’s life could have ended tragically, but God was faithful. Keep praying His Word over your granddaughter, and don’t ever give up. Thanks so much for sharing your heart. Blessings! 🙂
Andrea, thank you for reminding us that in whatever situation as Christ followers, God is God Almighty and the evil one will always try to deceive us. Praying the powerful Word as a warrior whether we feel it or not makes the difference. As you and many readers have said, the circumstances may not change, but we do. Sometimes we don’t get the answer we know is right and the answer that we think should be God’s will. Sometimes those prodigals don’t make it. If we believe that God is a God of love, that He hears our prayers, that He bottles our tears, that anything is possible with Him, and yet we lose that precious loved one in death, we can still know that that was God’s most perfect answer to brining that precious one out of the dark life that had them captive. And we can know that in all that, God has brought Himself glory and we too have been changed for His glory.
Patty, thanks for sharing. You’re right, we have to believe that God can turn any situation around — especially what the Enemy means for evil and destruction — and work it for our good and His glory. I have a friend whose prodigal didn’t make it, but God has transformed her life into something wonderful and beautiful, and she now ministers to others in the same situation. We never know what the answer will be, but we know that God is the only one who holds the answers. Blessings! 🙂
Drugs and estrangement is the story in so many families. It breaks my heart, and even when you think you have it behind you, thoughts return. So hard to forget the pain apart from Christ. Thanks for sharing. I would love your book.
So true, Teresa, especially now with what kids are being taught in school, plus what they’re exposed to … especially the media and internet. All these kids want is to be loved and accepted as they go from one thing to another to try and fill that God-shaped void in their heart. The pain for us is definitely hard to forget. It was difficult to write my story, because I had to relive so many of those painful memories. But there was also tremendous healing as I put those words on paper. My prayer is that my book will continue to bring encouragement and hope to others who are facing the same fiery trial. Blessings to you! 🙂
Author
Congratulations, Teresa! You’re the randomly selected winner of Andrea Merrell’s book, Praying for the Prodigal! I’ll contact you via email with more details. Thanks for joining the conversation!
What a comforting sentence, “The truth is: even “good” kids rebel—and even “good” parents can end up with a prodigal.” My prayer has been, after I surrendered the situation to God, that I don’t take “it” back from God…I have a tendency to do that, unfortunately. And, many prayers for His guidance in opening my mouth when I should and keeping it closed when I shouldn’t speak all those things I want to say. 😉 You’re book sounds fabulous! Thank you for sharing your story!
I certainly know what you mean, Deanna. So many times I gave “it” to the Lord, then snatched it back because I felt like He surely needed my help. LOL Plus, I think keeping my mouth closed was one of the hardest things to do. I said so many things I shouldn’t have, but God forgave me and so did my kids. We’re human, after all. A work in progress just like our kids. So glad God knows our heart … and has a sense of humor. Thanks for your comment. Blessings! 🙂
I, too, have walked this path. Until I learned to hand it all over to the Lord and simply pray, things did not go so well. Even then, it has still been a long and agonizing process, but we are beginning to see light at the end of a very dark tunnel. I would love to read your book.
Linda, even though it’s a long, hard path, that light gets brighter at the end of the tunnel as we continue to trust God and pray His Word. Thanks for sharing. Blessings! 🙂
Thank you for sharing. We, too, have had a prodigal. It was a very difficult time, but so comforting to know that God loves her more than we do.
Jeanna, I’m convinced that nothing grows our faith more than dealing with a prodigal. It shatters our mama-heart. But how comforting to know that God loves us, hears us, and responds to the faithful cries of that mama-heart. Blessings to you! 🙂