In Luke 15, Jesus told the story of a prodigal child. And while He was sharing a parable about our relationship with a loving heavenly Father, many parents also relate to His words on a deeply personal level. 

In their everyday existence, they aren’t just the “son” who has wandered to the far country. They’re also parents who literally are waiting for a prodigal to return. While the dad in Jesus’s story stands out as one of the great father figures in the Bible, they are wrestling with children gone astray and wondering when things will change.

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“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.”

Psalm 103:13

Luke 15 in Real Life

The truth is that literal versions of Luke 15 are being lived out all around us. While you’re sitting in church on any given Sunday, you might be sitting next to a family who’s dealing with the heartbreak of a prodigal child. The details may be a little different from one pew to the next, but pain and nagging questions like “What if?” and “How long?” are common denominators in every story.

And for many reading this, the prodigal isn’t just a parable. It’s happening to you.

What to Know About a Prodigal Child

Whether it’s you or someone you know, parenting a prodigal child is hard. Thankfully, God has given us some guidance on the subject. After all, as Jesus’s story so clearly illustrates, He has a lot of experience waiting for His children to come home. 

In fact, the most important thing you can remember is that God loves your children even more than you do. And He longs to see that son or daughter “come home.” He is in the business of restoring people to Himself and to one another. So, never doubt that He knows and that He cares—and that He is at work behind the scenes.

In the meantime, here are three other truths you can embrace and apply as you wait. 

Prodigal kids are not necessarily the result of poor parenting.

It’s natural for parents who deal with prodigal children to wonder what they could have done differently. But, in many cases, the answer is “not much.” That’s because even the best parents who do all the right things can experience the heartache of a prodigal. You might be doing the very best you can and trusting God at every turn, but your child makes choices that lead them to distant countries spiritually.

At some point, it becomes more about the kid than the parent. Your job as a dad is to create the culture in your family and to give family members every opportunity to grow in the Lord. Of course, you’ll never do it perfectly because you’re human. But your child is also responsible for his or her actions, so don’t compromise your God-given values. Just keep praying and looking for opportunities to connect in healthy ways. And let them know that you love them more than they can imagine.

A prodigal’s present does not determine his or her future.

To me, this is an encouraging biblical truth that we can find outside the story of the prodigal son. For example, Proverbs 22:6 says that if we guide kids along the right path, what we teach them will stick. And Paul told the Philippians that the God who begins a good work in people will complete the job in His perfect way and His perfect timing (Phil. 1:6). 

I often tell parents of teenagers that parenting is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a long game with highs and lows. But you should never give up hope!

Yes, you need to pray for your kids. Yes, you may have to wait and watch like the dad in the parable. And, yes, it will be hard at times. But God has a plan, and He will see it through. Trust Him to give you some light when the darkness feels overwhelming and to remind you that what you see in your child right now is not where he or she may be next week, next month, or next year.

Embrace the return.

Men in ancient Israel did not run. It was considered undignified. And that’s what makes the image of that father running to meet his prodigal child so beautiful. He didn’t care about his own reputation, and He didn’t demand an explanation. He just knew his son was home.

When your prodigal comes home, embrace the return. Kill the fatted calf. Celebrate the grace of God and thank Him for finding those who are lost and leading them home again. You will never be able to change the past, so make the most of the present and look to the future.

Not All Prodigals Leave Home

One fact that’s easy to overlook in Luke 15 is that Jesus was really talking to two sets of prodigals. One group—the rebels, the outsiders, the ones who intentionally walked away from God—are easy to identify. But the man in the parable had two sons, and the older one was just as much a prodigal as the younger.

He just didn’t leave home.

He was a prodigal child despite sticking around. His attempts to find love by keeping the rules (which illustrated the religious leaders of Jesus’s day) missed the mark as well. His words and actions might have looked good, but he had a prodigal heart.

You may have that kind of prodigal child living under your roof, as well. If so, reach out to them the way the father reached out to the older brother in the story. Whether your prodigal child has drifted or stayed put, they both need you to point them to Jesus, to the love and purpose only He can provide. 

Are you ready to be the dad God called you to be? Take the Godly Father Assessment to see how you’re doing and where you can improve as a father!