Due to many influences, there are young people raised in Christian families who struggle with their faith when they reach the age of “maturity”. This article is designed to help parents walk through this troublesome and often, discouraging times. Not every child faces these challenges. This article is for those who do.

As a chick struggles to peck themselves out of the egg shell—their home, their protection, their place of nurture, so a Christian young person often finds themselves struggling to find their place in the “adult world”. The mother hen must stand back, without interference and watch the effort her chick is exerting. This same struggle is often difficult for Christian parents to watch, as well. However, unlike the hen, there are things that they can do.

Keep your eyes focused on the Lord. Continue praying for your child. Ask God for understanding of the issues your child is facing. Ask the Lord to help you see where your child has gained maturity. Don’t simply focus on the negative, accentuate the positive. Ask Him for ways to impart insight and wisdom. Pray for God to bring wise Christians into your child’s life. When insecurities begin to rise about your past parenting mistakes, allow the grace of God to comfort your soul. If God brings areas to mind, where you know you made a mistake, go to your child and ask their forgiveness. There are so many variables that influence young people, but parents walking in sincere faith can depend on the Holy Spirit to minister to their child. Remember, the goal is a transference of faith and relationship from the parent to the child.

Let patience have her perfect work. Many parents are often too impatient, wanting to see the mature planting of the Lord in their child before it is time. Be patient as the Holy Spirit works in the lives of your child. He can help them, as He has helped you grow to maturity. 6 Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it. Proverbs 22:6 is a wonderful promise.

Several other thoughts come to mind.

• We must have faith in the seeds that were sown in our children’s hearts. The years of training, praying and modeling the example of a Christ follower is not easily ignored. God’s Word is alive and powerful, and produces fruit.
• We must release our faith that the personal prayers that your children have prayed over the years have been heard by God and He desires to answer them as well.
• We must trust the Holy Spirit is at work, whether we see the evidence or not.
• This is a time where our faith in our God is stretched, tested and challenged. As parents we need to draw near to God in prayer, faith and trust.
• We need to remember that we are stewards of our children, we do not own them. We can not force them to be what we think they ought to be.
• We need to know that it is difficult to be a young person today. There are fears and concerns that we did not face when we were there age.
• Listen to them. Find ways to support them.
• We are not the Holy Spirit.
• Keep the lines of communication open. Talk with your child about many things, not simply the “do’s and don’ts” of life.
• Develop friendship based on their interests, not simply your own.
• Let them know you like them as well as love them.

As you are waiting for your own prodigal to return remember that you do not wait alone. God also waits with open arms. Ask Him for wisdom about when to let your child learn their own lessons and gain wisdom. Ask Him to give you the grace to stand in faith while they make poor decisions. Ask Him for strength not to intervene before His timing. Ask for grace to cover the times you did not model the Father’s love in front of your children. And ask Him for a plan on how to welcome your child home. When they come they will have learned wisdom from God.