“How many of you have a prodigal child?”
I didn’t expect to hear Pastor Jim’s question in the final session of the conference. My husband and I and hundreds of other pastors and their wives had just spent three days at the Billy Graham Training Center learning ministry strategy, Bible study methods, and church growth tips. We’d gathered for one last meeting, one he’d promised would be an encouraging send off.
“Our goal for this conference is to send you back to your churches better equipped to minister to those in your circle of influence,” he said.
So why was he asking pastors and their wives if they had a prodigal child? Of all the ministry “failures” my husband and I had experienced, the fact that our daughter wasn’t walking with the Lord was by far the most painful.
We glanced at each other, then raised our hands.
So did three-fourths of the people in the sanctuary.
“I don’t know your stories,” Pastor Jim said, “but I want you to know three things.” He pointed his index finger to the sky. “First, you are not alone.” He lifted both hands and gestured from one side of the room to the other. “Look around.”
We saw raised hands everywhere. The same tears that had sprung to our eyes shimmered in almost every other person’s eyes.
“We share your pain, and God the Father shares your pain. Don’t believe the lie that if you’d been a better parent, your children would be walking with God right now. God did everything right, and His kids still turned their backs on Him. We grieve with you, and He grieves with you. You are not alone.
“Second,” he said, “nothing is too hard for God. Jeremiah 32:27 says, ‘I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?’ The Bible tells us He can restore the years the locust have eaten and bring water in the wilderness and streams in the desert. He can call prodigals home from the far country and turn a heart of stone into a heart of flesh.
“You weren’t looking for God when He called you to Himself, but He did. He can do the same for your children.
“Third,” he said, “God answers prayer.”
He opened his Bible, flipped to James 5:16, and read, “‘The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’ Even if you don’t know where your prodigal is right now, pray for them, because God knows. He will use your prayers to accomplish His will in their life. Never give up. Never stop praying. Never lose hope.”
He paused, and the auditorium sat quietly. I heard a few sniffles, and one man sobbed quietly on the front row.
“In a moment, we’re going to pray for your prodigals, but first I want you to say their names out loud.”
All over the auditorium, soft voices broke the silence.
“Michael.”
“James.”
“Chelsea.”
“Sarah.”
Like a trickle that becomes a stream that becomes a river, the names came faster and louder, tumbling over each other.
Katie. Anne Marie. Jonathan. William. Forest. Jesse. Chase. Laney.
When the flood had slowed, Pastor Jim spoke. “I want you to reach across the seat and join hands with the person closest to you.” All around the room, people linked hands to form a chain that snaked its way among the rows.
He walked off the stage and extended his hand to the man at the end of the chain. Grasping it firmly, he bowed his head and closed his eyes.
“Father, you’ve heard us call out the names of our beloved children, but that was for our benefit, not Yours. You’ve known them from before they were born. Thank you for creating them and giving them to us to love and care for.”
He took a deep breath and continued. “We haven’t been perfect parents, and we’re sorry for that. Forgive us for what we did and didn’t do.
“Father, some of us don’t even know where our children are right now, but you do. Bring them back. Make their heart tender toward You, and open their heart to believe. Rescue them from the enemy’s schemes and cause them to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Save them, Father, for their sake and for ours.”
He paused. “Lord, you see these faithful men and women. They’ve cared for your people, often at the expense of their families. Fill their hearts with hope. Use their prayers to accomplish your will on the earth. Help them run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint (Isaiah 40:31). Bless ‘em, Lord. In the strong name of Jesus I ask, amen.”
He climbed back on stage. “As you leave here, I hope you’ll remember these three truths and leave encouraged:
“You are not alone.
“Nothing is too hard for God.
“God answers prayer.”
As we filed out, a sweet and holy hush clung to us. Some wiped away tears. Others offered wobbly smiles of silent solidarity. Deep in our hearts, we felt again the flicker of hope.
Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ Matthew 19:26
—Written by Lori Hatcher. Used by permission from the author.
