Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
for the help of His countenance.

(Psalm 42:5 NKJV)

I survived eight years without knowing where my adult daughter was. I was anguished, not knowing how she was doing. I cried my eyes out for eight Christmases. I missed eight birthdays. I can’t tell you how many times I considered taking my life to end the pain.

I hated Mothers Day the most, possibly because all our birthdays surrounded it; my daughter, my mom, and mine. For many of those years, I avoided church on Mothers Day. They rarely know what to say. Then they asked the moms to stand, and I wasn’t sure whether to stand or not. I wanted to disappear for that weekend. Then there were people who wished me a happy Mother’s Day with goodness in their hearts, but I couldn’t handle it.

What happened after the long eight years? We had a reconciliation that was rocky at best. I felt so disappointed that it wasn’t the reunion I had dreamed about.

Today’s verse reminds us to hope in God. Even when I felt a relationship was impossible, I still had a sliver of hope, because God is faithful. Nothing is impossible for God. I heard stories about moms who had received their children back. Friend, never let go of hope, no matter how bad it gets.

The psalmist writes about praising God. Praise got me through all those holidays. I praised my way through the bad days. Praise was like medicine to my heart. When it seems impossible, praise Jesus.

Dear friend, I don’t know what your situation is, but I do know the heartache of a prodical. I am honored to pray for you, but please let me encourage you with two things – hope and praise.

As tears flow down your cheeks, praise Him. While you wash dishes, praise Him! Every morning and every night, praise Him!

This year has been the best year for my daughter and me as far as our relationship goes. The best news is that God has saved her and delivered her from homosexuality. He can do that for your wayward baby too.

I pray for you sweet friend. I pray God will lift your head and dry your tears. I pray He will pour out His grace on you. Now, please join me in praying for our children.

Father God, You know what it is like to be a parent. You watched Your Own Son die. As mommas, we cry out to You. We ask You to bring our baby’s home. We cry out for healing from mental health issues, alcoholism, and addictions. We speak out against the spirit of homosexuality, pornography, sexual sins, addictions, and whatever the devil and world has entrapped them in. Father, you give us the authority to trample serpents and scorpians, so we stomp all over the devil right now and demand him to leave our children alone. In Jesus’s name. Amen.