When Someone You Love Walks Away from the Faith

Heartbroken over a child, spouse, or friend who's turned their back on God? In this episode, discover how God relentlessly pursues the ones who wander, and how you can keep loving, praying, and holding the door open while you wait.Have you ever watched someone you love walk away from the faith and felt completely powerless to bring them back?Few things cut deeper than seeing a child, spouse, sibling, or close friend reject the God you hold dear. The guilt, the questions, the desperate prayers that seem to go unanswered, the weight of it can feel unbearable. You wonder what you did wrong. You wonder if you could have said something different. And underneath it all is a helplessness that keeps you up at night, because you know you can't force someone to believe.In this episode, we look at the story of Billy and Ruth Graham, whose son Franklin spent years drinking, smoking, and living recklessly, rejecting everything his parents had raised him to believe. Billy was preaching the gospel to millions around the world, but back home, his own son wanted nothing to do with the faith. Ruth spent sleepless nights crying out to God for a child who was running in the opposite direction. They never stopped loving him, never gave up praying, and never tried to force him back. But the waiting was agonizing.Through their story and the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:20, you'll see that a person's spiritual journey doesn't end because they've wandered. The father in Luke 15 was still watching the road. Billy and Ruth were still praying after years. And God is still relentlessly pursuing the one you love. Your role isn't to play the Holy Spirit. It's to keep loving, keep praying, and keep the door open.BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:Why your loved one's wandering is not necessarily your failure, and how to release the guilt you may be carryingWhat the prodigal son's father teaches us about waiting with open arms instead of chasing with controlThree practical commitments you can make this week to love, pray for, and entrust your wandering loved one to GodGod hasn't given up on them. And neither should you.Share This Episode:https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/178Need Prayer? Leave me a voicemail:https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/voicemailWant to keep these devotions coming? Please consider supporting this podcast.https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/support/Connect with BartFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dailydevotionsforbusylivesWebsite: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.comFeeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus hereMentioned in this episode:Join Our Private Facebook CommunityIf you're looking for a place to connect with other Daily Devotions listeners and pray for each other, I'd love for you to join our private Facebook community group. Come find us at https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/group