Wayward Loved Ones

[Babyruth]

This is a difficult topic, at least to me. If I make it come across wrong, please forgive me. Right now, my best friend/closest friend for the past 11+ years is not serving God. She's doing badly and she makes it almost next to impossible to get in contact with her. I talk to her brother and he tells me she asks about me, but when I call, she ignores it and never returns my calls. I understand, as much as I can, it's not about me. I know it's satan getting her away, but it's so hard. I have only seen her twice in the past year. I'm praying, but is there more I can do? I feel like praying isn't enough. I know prayer is powerful, but when you're hurting and when it's something that takes a while, it doesn't always seem so powerful. I think it's because it's not instant, and that's a problem I think we all deal with. But still.

I also have some family members that are not serving God at all, or to their full capacity (as in backsliding), and it's hard. I don't know what to do. I pray. And then I get impatient and try to talk to them, but it ends up in arguements which are not right.

Can anyone help me? I know God has everything in control, but my life right now seems to be spinning out of control at top speed, while rolling down the bumpiest hill imaginable. Is there anything I can do?

[AndrewMichael]

I'll be one to attest Prayer is by far the BEST thing for you to do.

My brother rejected all our talks about God for years, but I never stopped praying for him. Then, I got to watch God take control and bring him back in by Himself. The only reason I came back is because people prayed for me when they knew my family left the Lord. We MUST stand in the gap for these people, to extend the mercy of God to them. We won't usually see the results right away, but those angels still recieve their commands from US, the children of God.

Remember, Abraham saved Sodom because he was separated from them and that way God could interceed, while Lot couldn't help them at all being with them. The prayer of a separated saint is the most powerful thing to bring these people back. Make sure you wait on them to respond, and be very sesitive to know when God needs you to talk to them, sometimes He won't want you to, especially those who KNOW the truth, they just aren't living it. <--- Those people just need the spoken Word, which is True Christlike Love.

[marichino_freedom]

It is hard. I know. I get into arguments with my family too, but it's because they are telling me that i am wrong. It's difficult to be the only one in your family who is trying to serve God. As for friends; all of mine (well, most of them) believe in God, but don't do much in the way of serving him. I find it best not to discuss it with some of them, but I will always pray for them. The best thing we can do is to pray for the ones we love.

My grandma prayed for me my whole life (and still does) that I would come to God....and I did. it works, we just have to be patient (even though that's one of the hardest obstacles for human beings to overcome).

[blessed]

Hi Ruth , I totally understand how you feel, cause Im in the same situation. I have been feeling totally helpless recently cause I just don't know what to do again, I can't talk to them because it will result in one big argument...so I just pray and I know that God will answer my prayer. So my friend just pray and trust the Lord to work things out.

[BroTrevor]

Faith, my sister. Have Faith in God. I too have "wayward" family. Yet, as we cannot do anything of ourselves, we must wait on God.

He said:

JOHN 6:37
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.


SHALL come to me.

Have faith in those Words.

Now, you also must pray and believe for them. Pray earnestly...seek God's face on it. Show God what it means to you....

Hezekiah "set his face towards the wall" when He prayed, and he recieved an answer...

We need more "setting our face towards the wall" for our wayward family and friends.


Also, think on this:

LUKE 14:26
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.


There are many in these last days who are fullfilling this scripture. Maybe not "hating" in the sense we think of it, but definitely not agreeing with, or following.

[God'schild]

Ruth i understand....

Prayer is the key thing in a situation like this.. I was 13 when the 3 oldest siblings left the message in my family. 2000 was the year it was devasting for me, 6 and half years later God does a 180 on my brother and brings him in.. People prayed for him and my sisters i know that one day those prayers will be answered and my sisters will come in... Claim them in the Name of Jesus...

It's hard when my prayers don't get answered at the time i want them to or it feels like God didn't hear them, But God hears all are prayers... "There's a perfect time and place for everything under Heaven"
God in his perfect time will bring them in...

[EllyMae]

Ruth, I'm the only one out of a family of four that is a Christian. I live in a house that is not suit for a Godly person to live. Both my parents are smokers, which I've never liked even before I became a Christian (not to mention it really irritates my sensitive eyes and makes me sneeze a lot! lol). I also have really good friends that I've known since I was 6 years old who aren't Christians as well. We all have people we love who we hope and pray will come to the truth.

We do our honest best to talk to them. Don't push anything, if your friend doesn't want to talk, don't talk. Only if she is willing... One thing you don't want to do, is make the other person feel as though they HAVE to, because then they usually won't.

Other than that, as other people have said, the best thing to do is continue to pray as you have. Have faith in God and have patience...

Will be praying for you and for friend, Ruth! :)

[Babyruth]

Thank you all very much. I really appreciate it. I know that prayer is the best, and I need to be more patient. It's just a matter of actually doing it that's hard. Not the prayer part, but the patience part. I thank you all for your encouragement. It means a lot.

[AlanaH]

I'm praying too Ruth, cause I know who you're talking about, and it touches me as well...

[cabletown]

MOTHER'S.DAY_ JEFF.IN V-25 N-1 SUNDAY_ 59-0510M
81 After that will come Brother Seward, Brother Frank Broy, Brother George DeArk. Oh, the resurrection means a lot to me. I'm anticipating on that great crowning hour. And then as the Light begins to spread, we'll know as we are known. We'll understand, and--and we'll remember our acquaintance and the--the ones that's been there.
And--and many, there'll be many there that we didn't even think would be there. For, you know, it's at that time, that I believe that the bread that we have cast upon the human troubled waters will return to us on that day, when we see the effects of our testimony on people that we didn't understand their action towards It, will probably be there. What a day that will be.
And then also, the seeds that we sowed, not even thinking that what they would do, but here they are. They brought forth precious fruits, and we'll see them on that day, the wayward loved ones and relatives.

ADOPTION.2_ JEFF.IN AD.2 WEDNESDAY_ 60-0518
16 Now, but, it was such a great thing that the inheritance, how it was that an inheritance in the land that no one else but a close kinsman could redeem that inheritance. Now, let me just drop on a little token here that I touched on the other night to you mothers. How many has prayed for your loved ones, lost? All right. There you are again (See?), "Your inheritance." See?
Paul told the Roman, said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou and thy house shall be saved." If you got faith enough for your ownself to be saved, have faith enough, no matter how wayward that boy is, or that girl is, they'll be saved anyhow. God somehow, if He has to lay them on their back, laying there in a hospital, dying, they'll be saved. God promised it. The inheritance... Oh. "And they shall be there," said Isaiah, "and all their offsprings with them. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord."
Oh, I've got a little spot I hope I can get to tonight, for you: just burning in my heart, of that comes back to that. But now, on forward.
--------

Some thoughts. I agree that prayer is the most important thing. The more we pray, read our Bibles, listen and read the Message and become an adopted son or daughter of God I believe the more others will see Christ living in us. In the world that is what shines the most I’ve found. Be a real Christian to the unbelievers and they’ll see it! If someone is trying to pull away it may be because they are uncomfortable to discuss what they are doing and they know it’s wrong. So just talking to them about it may drive them away farther. Instead live a Christian life out. That will show so much to them. Another thing... we want to believe our loved ones are going to be believers right? Then start actually believing it and acting as if they were believers. Treat them as believers! Act on your faith!

And sometimes it may seem the Lord isn’t doing anything. At times you may fast and pray about a situation or for someone. After several days you give up. You feel like a complete and utter failure. Then later on you find out that the Lord actually did something right after you gave up. Do you think the Lord wants us to do all we can and when we throw are hands up and say “I give up Lord! It’s in your hands now! I can do nothing.” The Lord says, “Ok, now that you’ve done everything you can do I’ll step up and take control. Now when it happens you’ll know it was Me doing it and not your efforts! I want you to give your all and when you have then I’ll step in and take control!”

Don’t forget, fast as well as pray. It may not be said much but Jesus was emphatic that only some kinds of faith comes about by prayer and fasting.

[AlanaH]

One of our ministers just preached on Goals in the youth meeting...one of my personal goals is to do all I can to restore someone to the faith. Whether that be through talking, living or praying more, I don't know, but I'm willing to give it a try. Also to witness more. You never know who's out there looking for the truth.

[God'schild]

the bible some people will only read is your life... I know i want people to see Jesus Christ living in me more today then i did yesturday or 10 years ago... I know my life speaks louder then my words... " Your Actions speak Louder then your Words." Even if i never speak to a person about Jesus Christ at least they will see that Jesus Christ is living today by my life... And if they get thristy for what i have they will come and talk to me and want what i have..

Your life is a bible and a testimony of what you believe..

[joris]

I guess my parents... well let me describe it like, maybe they aren't thirsty enough yet

[TommyLewis]

This is a very difficult topic...I know how you feel...There is a whole group of people I grew up with, went to Message camps with, and we were all struggling, running from the Lord at the same time. God got ahold of my life, and now I am serving Him , but most of that group went the opposite direction and left the church, left God entirely. Also, I am the oldest of 6 brothers, and am the only one serving God right now.
I really do believe that prayer is the number one thing. The young people at my church get together once a week and pray for our friends/loved ones, and God honors that. Also, I believe that the importance of loving them cannot be overstated. You can, and should, disaprove of their lifestyle, but never let them think you disaprove of them. I think Satan preys on the weak, by making them feel like they are somehow unworthy of spending time with the stronger Christians. Sometimes we as Christians can be so self righteous that we contribute to this, and end up driving people further away. They end up spending more and more time with their wordly friends because they feel unwelcome amongst the Christians. I've seen this happen, and it is tragic. I am, of course, not accusing anyone here of this. It is just something that is dear to my heart, because I have seen it happen so often around the "message." It is possible to love someone, to spend time with someone, without approving their lifestyle.
I know thats sums up how I feel about my friends/family who aren't serving God. I will pray for them, I will love them, and I will never lose hope that God will bring them in...