God is Responsible for you: Prodigal Son - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) April 22, 2022

Remember the story of the prodigal son? Told by Jesus in Luke 15:11-31, the parable is about a young man who demanded his inheritance from his father. (Note, a child typically receives their inheritance after the passing of a parent. What does it mean when a child wants their inheritance before a parent's death? That's a discussion for another day). Against all advice, he took that wealth and squandered it. He then had to take a menial job and hungry, had to eat pig food. One day, he realized his father's servants had it better. He also concluded that if he went home, apologized, and sought to work as a servant in his father's house, he'd be better off than living on pig slop.

Humbled, the young man started his journey. We are told in Luke 15:20 - “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The lost son was warmly received and a homecoming party was held in his honor.

Just like the prodigal son, we often think we will do a better job handling our affairs by ourselves. When we get to thinking that way, we demand that the blessings and gifts our Father has for us come immediately. And when God obliges, we use them for our own desires instead of His purposes. The result is we end up squandering what we should have patiently waited for.

Praise be to God, that even after making a mistake, our loving Father doesn't abandon us. Instead, like the father of the prodigal son, He waits eagerly, watching out for our return. And when we return, all of heaven gives glory and rejoices (Luke 15:10).

Knowing this, why then do we struggle to wait for what God has for us? Why can't we be patient? After all, we know that God will fulfill His promises and won't let us down, right? The trouble is in the waiting. We've been conditioned to desire immediate gratification. However, God doesn't always work that way. Sure, sometimes we'll have our desires and prayers fulfilled in the blink of an eye. However there are times when He will allow us to wait even if that constitutes a struggle. Indeed, what God said is contained in 1 Peter 5:10 - And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (NIV)

The God who is responsible for you will take care of you. He wants you to trust Him and know that you will receiveyour birthright at the right time. The waiting might not be easy but you have to remember that after a short spell of struggle, our Father Himself will remove the dust left behind from the suffering. He will bless you with clean garments, so you stand strong in Him. You'll have what was promised and more, if you just let your Father, who has all responsibility for your welfare, perfect you and all that is around you.

Lord, increase our faith in You and grant us Your grace to wait patiently and persevere, IJMN, Amen.

See you at Noon!