When You Love a Prodigal

Joy, my friend and neighbor, always brings Joy into my life—she was aptly named. She told me God gave her a joyful surprise this morning. She had completely forgotten some avocado seeds she had planted. This morning, she was surprised by joy as she saw new avocado trees sprouting. I don’t think my reaction to the growing avocado trees would be joy, But joy is her normal response. She lives it out...

This week we are beginning the first of four devotional studies leading up to the June 2 Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day. The theme is Joy in the Hard Journey. There will be more info on June 2 at the end of the podcast and in the Show Notes. My husband, Steve, has been a daily source of joy for me for more than 50 years, and especially for the 47 years of marriage. He loved me and served me and enc...

Once again our prodigal had aggravated me. My natural reaction was to raise my voice and assign a consequence. Instead, as he stormed out of the house, I went to his room, gathered his scattered dirty clothes and headed to the laundry room. Doing his laundry was his job, not mine. But today it was mine. And as I threw each shirt and shorts into the washer, I said, “My son, I bless you.” “Josh, I b...

Sarah Nielsen is one of us. She had a long journey with a prodigal, and like us, she learned a great deal about living with and loving a wanderer. And about learning to trust God along the way. You will appreciate her stories and hearing about her book, Just Keep Going. We are giving away two copies of her book—check below for how to enter for the drawing. Resources: Enter to win a copy of Sarah’s...

It’s amazing to me that this is Episode 100. I had never even listened to a podcast when I was asked to do this one. But my team and my husband said, when I was reluctant, “You can’t turn down this great opportunity God has given you!!” So I said yes. And it has been such a privilege to travel with you on your prodigal wilderness journey, learning with you, hopefully helping and encouraging you. I...

I was asked at church yesterday what has helped me get through hard times. Of course, the Holy Spirit, prayer...and this one practice. This is a familiar message you have heard from me, but it has made all the difference: Give thanks in everything. Learning to say “thank You” to God has transformed my life. I believe it can do the same for you—even on the hardest days with your loved one. Resource...

In kids’ sports there is often a “mercy rule.” If one team gets far ahead, the game is called. It seems only kind and fair to not embarrass or demoralize the kids who are losing so badly. In life it rarely works that way. There is no mercy rule, no rescue from your losses, your hurts, your failures. But in God’s Kingdom, Jesus instituted a Mercy Rule. Resources: Mercy Music: Mercy, Matt Redman htt...

Learning to live out God’s amazing mercy doesn’t happen overnight. Today we are going to look at two familiar stories in the Bible and see the journeys to mercy of Jonah and Joseph. God sent Jonah to Ninevah on a mission of mercy. But Jonah knew God was a merciful God. He was sure, if he preached and the people of Nineveh repented, God would spare them. Jonah did not want that, so he found a ship...

God’s love for His children—from long ago and for us—can be described with words like reckless, relentless, lavish, extravagant. Yet the children of Israel turned from him to other gods over and over. God wept many tears. And we who love a prodigal have loved, provided, encouraged, trained and taught, reprimanded and prayed. Over and over…and over again. Oh, the tears we have wept. How did God res...

Today we are starting a new series—a very important topic because God has said it is so high on His list of what matters, in our loved ones’ lives and in our lives. I’m talking about mercy. We all want mercy, but we often find it challenging to give mercy. I think you will be surprised. Resources: Mercy Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvww0_6GWYU Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here...

Debbie Runyon, sister to our prodigal Josh, once asked me why I let him get away with so many things he did. I said, “I could be after Josh all day every day with all the choices he made. I decided to focus on the ones that would save his life.” In our honest and vulnerable conversation, Debbie shares from what she remembers when Josh first joined us as a foster child, some realities she learned,...

As many of you know, my wonderful husband Steve moved to heaven four months ago. I am missing him terribly, but God and friends are helping me in so many ways. One of the best things about our 47 years of marriage was that I knew he loved me. He told me so at least once every day. He gave me lots of hugs. Every morning he made coffee and brought a cup to me—and kept it filled. And he and I both wo...

I first got to know Tom and Dena Yohe on the June 2 Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day. Their daughter was gone, living on the street. The long journey that ensued was so challenging, but has produced amazing good outcomes –in their family and in the many who have received help from their resources and support groups. Tom and Dena share their story, and how you can access the helps they have developed....

Today we wrap up our wilderness exploration—looking for treasured gifts, with two especially helpful gifts. I am a strong-willed, stubborn person. From the beginning. Just ask my family. When I came to Christ at age 15, I made a purposeful exchange: “God, I choose your way, not mine.” I thought it was settled. But, by the next day I discovered I would be making the choice—my way or God’s way?—ever...

I used to think I knew how to pray. Then this wilderness journey with my wandering son required desperate prayer. And I moved into a new dimension of what it meant to pray. Even now I realize I still know so little about praying. Prayer is a wonder I can barely comprehend. Sometimes I feel woefully inadequate and terribly ineffective—does anything happen when I pray? Resources: Free Ebook: https:/...

Is unconditional love possible? Parents learn this early. Even before a baby is born, they love her. And the moment they see her, they are head over heels in love. It’s a good thing. Because that baby demands everything and gives no love in return for quite a while. Fortunately they grow up and learn to love. Unfortunately, when they become teens, sometimes they break our hearts with words like, “...

You don’t expect to find one of your best gifts ever when you are wandering through the wilderness. A walk in the wilderness might be lovely if you’re a nature lover and you keep your eyes open. You could discover some real gems: colorful creatures, spectacular plants, encounters with startling animals, an astounding array of colors and shapes underwater, hidden waterfalls. But a walk in the wilde...

You won't want to miss this week's episode!! I loved my conversation with Darryl Smith, a truly transformed prodigal--and I think you will too. Darryl fathered a child in high school, dealt drugs, was divorced and remarried, spent time in prison...and now serves Jesus. Darryl Lamar Smith was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He graduated from Kirkman High School in 1983 and served in the...

Life has been very challenging since my beloved moved to Heaven. But God has been so faithful. I hope you will listen and be encouraged--Loss comes in many forms. Resources: Giving Thanks Through Tears: https://tinyurl.com/y288bdxm Email judy@judydouglass.com to receive a copy of Enjoying Your Walk with God Enter the drawing for 3 winners to receive a copy of Steve’s Books: https://judydouglass.co...

Today, celebrating 50 episodes of When You Love a Prodigal, Josh—the prodigal in Judy’s story—tells his own story. In an honest, sometimes teary, tender and hopeful conversation, Josh and Judy walk through his life—from the addictions of his birth mother, being thrust into the Douglass family as a foster and later adopted son, lots of wrong friends and wrong choices . . . . Listen in to hear the r...

A great way to begin the new year: I just celebrated my spiritual birthday. December 31 marked 62 years since I received God’s amazing gift of salvation, reconciliation and eternal life. What an adventure it has been! And many challenges. Because I don’t seem to be able to remember the lessons God has taught me over the years, I turn them into slogans I can remember. Here are my top ten.   Resourc...

One of the most important ways we extend grace to our prodigals is through our words. In Colossians 4:6 Paul reminds us: Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.  Words are powerful. They have the potential to inflame discord and inflict great emotional harm, or the capacity to encourage repentance and restoration, and offer he...

“He’s building his testimony.”  With those words, God kept reminding me of this important truth from Jesus: “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working” (John 5:17). When our loved one is doing destructive things, our tendency is often to sigh or cry or despair. Yet God is at work even in all this. He is at work in our prodigals, He is at work in these circumstances, an...

One of the hardest parts of the wilderness journey with a loved prodigal is the roller coaster—the ups and downs, the unexpected turns, the dashed hope. Why are we surprised? We have an enemy. That enemy is after those we love. Peter tells us: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Resources: Join the Prayer...

When you love a prodigal, you probably don’t get many Christmas gifts from them. But as Jesus comes at Advent, he brings many valuable gifts for you. There are dozens, but you will discover 20 special gifts to give you joy, peace and strength for the holidays. Resources:  Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here:  https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.l...