How can God’s purpose be accomplished in the life of my prodigal?

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Judges 14: 4 “But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord.”

Do you remember the joy you felt when your children were born? I vividly remember looking at those tiny people and being overwhelmed with love for them. I also had hopes and dreams of what they would accomplish and how God would use them when they were grown. You probably did too.

Some of those kids…yours and mine…have probably done well. They’ve grown up, made some good and some bad decisions, learned from them and are living productive lives. If you’re reading this, however, it’s probably because at least one of those kids is a prodigal. Forget about the joy or the dreams. You’re barely able to cling onto hope.

All those prayers, all that careful training, all that sacrifice…all that love. Now that prodigal has broken your heart and has embraced all the things you tried to protect him from. And you’re asking how God’s plan and purpose can possibly be accomplished in that prodigal’s life.

Judges 13 and 14 tell the story of Samson and his parents. He was loved and longed for and prepared for. Wanting to do everything right, his parents asked the angel how to prepare for Samson’s birth and what to do concerning him. What dreams they must have had for this son who would be born for a specific purpose.

However, the son they expected wasn’t the one they got. The first we hear of him as an adult is when he insisted on marrying a woman who was an ungodly Philistine. Although his parents pleaded with him, Samson insisted on having his own way. Then Judges 14 tells us something very strange. It says that his parents didn’t know that this was “of the Lord.” (Jud 14:4) Say what?

You’re probably saying Samson’s disobedience and rebellion couldn’t be what God wanted. And you’re right. God doesn’t tempt us to sin, and He didn’t tempt Samson to sin either. But God had a plan for Samson’s life, and that plan wouldn’t be thwarted by Samson’s rebellion and ungodly choices.

God’s purpose was that Samson “would begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” (Jud 13:5) It could better have been accomplished through Samson’s obedience. But either way God’s plan and purpose were signed, sealed and soon to be delivered.

As parents, we hate to see our children in pain. We also hate to see them making choices that will take them “to the far country” and can’t possibly turn out well for them. And we’re often frustrated at knowing there’s nothing we can do. I’m right there with you.

I would remind you, however, that your prodigal may be lost to you, but he isn’t lost to God. God knows exactly where he is. And reminding ourselves that God’s will is going to be accomplished in our prodigal’s life is one of the things we need to hold fast.

Challenge for Today: Can you, just for today, remind yourself that God’s purpose is going to be accomplished in your prodigal’s life?

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[MomzillaNC]

This is an important message for parents, especially parents struggling to guide a rebellious and difficult teen or young adult. Wish it was in the devotionals on parenting I read from Crosswalk.

Hope you don't mind: I shared this to my FB