Episode 204: Prodigals and a Heart to Reconcile and Restore the Wandering Soul

Today, Provost of Living Faith Bible Institute Brandon Briscoe discusses a new book with author John Wright, Prodigals: Hope for Lost Sons and Daughters, Regretful or Longsuffering Parents, and Bitter Brethren. Whether you’re a parent, sibling, or friend, you’ve likely felt the sting of a loved one abandoning you or the faith for a life of wandering in the world. There are complex emotions tangled up in this hurt—anger at the offense, confusion at the decision, bitterness at the rejection, and grief at the loss, among many others. It is a great comfort that this phenomenon is not estranged from God, and He has laid out stories and principles in His Word that can guide us in this process. Prodigals uses the story of the prodigal son to walk through a biblical perspective of loved ones’ hurtful decisions but also a biblical perspective of our own hearts as we learn to reckon that hurt rightly. Using Luke 15 as the guiding passage, we follow along with the prodigal son as he rejects his father’s provision, seeks fulfillment in the world, is greatly humbled, and returns penitent to a welcoming father. This story outlines for us the typical trajectory of a prodigal, and in so doing, it offers hope to those who, like the father, are patiently waiting at home for their loved one’s return. Prodigals also addresses other heart postures woven into this story, speaking specifically to those who may be wrestling with bitterness, envy, and skepticism at a prodigal’s decisions, or to those who may be prodigals themselves. Through God’s Word we come to learn that God’s heart is one of grace, longsuffering, and reconciliation, and as believers in Jesus Christ, we get to adopt that same heart towards our children, siblings, and friends who have wandered. View all Living Faith Book titles here: https://lfbi.org/books Purchase Prodigals here: https://a.co/d/dK4CwqM Visit https://www.lfbi.org/learnmore