My Answer: Don’t give up on prodigal daughter
Q: Why do some people insist on doing things they know will hurt them? Our daughter just laughs at us when we try to tell her she’s going down the wrong road and only hurting herself. It really breaks our hearts. What’s wrong with her? — Mrs. G.L.
A: I’m thankful you’re concerned about your daughter and, as you indicate, you’re concerned about her precisely because you know what’s likely to happen to her. Sin always has consequences, and they’re always bad.
But one of the most devastating consequences of sin is spiritual blindness. In other words, sin blinds us to its own terrible consequences.
What your daughter is doing isn’t logical, because all she has to do is look around her to see how people’s lives are constantly wrecked because they refuse to do what’s right. But in her spiritual blindness she’s convinced herself that she will be the exception, although she won’t. The Bible bluntly warns, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
Don’t give up praying for her, and don’t stand aside or quit warning your daughter as you have opportunity. But do so with gentleness and love, letting her know that you aren’t trying to run her life, but you love her and care deeply what happens to her. And if, like the prodigal son, she hits bottom someday, she needs to know God still loves her and welcomes her, and so do you.
Above all, ask God to help you be an example to her of Christ’s love and grace. It’s hard to see a son or daughter wander down the wrong road, and sometimes a parent’s words only cause resentment. But God can do what we can’t do, and often our example speaks louder than our words.
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Q: We moved across the country last year, and our family got so busy we just stopped going to church. Besides that, we like having our weekends to ourselves. You’ll probably try to talk us into going back to church, but why should we? We don’t really miss it. — Mrs. L.H.
A: Some time ago, a doctor told me about a patient of his who refused to take his blood pressure medicine because, he said, he didn’t feel like he really needed it. A year later, he suffered a serious stroke.
Tragically, the same thing can happen to us spiritually. We get preoccupied with other things. Life seems relatively stable. Nothing is happening that we don’t think we can handle, and as a result we don’t feel like we need God.
But in reality, we do need him, and eventually our spiritual poverty will catch up with us. It’s true for us as individuals, and it will be true for our children.
It may come through some crisis we can’t control; it may not happen until we face death. But the result is always the same: We’ve turned our backs on the only one who truly loves us and can help us, and as a result we’re left empty and alone. Jesus warned, “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Matthew 7:13).
Face honestly your need for God, for only then will you realize your need to be with God’s people and learn from God’s word. Begin by committing yourselves to Jesus Christ as a family and asking him to become the foundation of your lives. Then ask him to lead you to a church where you’ll not only feel comfortable, but you’ll also be able to grow strong in your faith.
(Send your queries to “My Answer,” c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn., 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM; or visit https://www.billygraham.org.)