How To Help Your Millennial Return To FaithSample

"Unspeakable Pain" 

Most parents, if they are honest, will tell you they are hurting. They hurt over the bad choices their adult children are making. They hurt over the intimacy they once had with their son or daughter. 

 In too many families, faith went only as far as church attendance. Throw in a few extra church activities, a few family devotions, and lectures about doing the right thing. The truth is, many parents do feel they failed in leading their children spiritually. 

 I remember an older pastor sharing with me about his prodigal son. He and I were sitting in his office before I was about to preach in his church. I saw many pictures of his beautiful family there. But I noticed he had current pictures only of his daughters and not his son. When I commented on it, he said that he and his wife had not spoken to their son in years. The pastor teared up and said, “I’m to blame that he’s running away from God. I was too busy ministering to others, and I didn’t do enough for my son. That’s my biggest regret.” 

Sound familiar? Take out ministering to others and fill in the blank. We all have regrets and know other godly parents who do as well.

 Holding on to regrets prevents you from experiencing true freedom in Christ. Being tossed around by waves of regret is actually where Satan, the great Adversary, wants you to be. He doesn’t want you to let your regrets go. He wants you to drown in them. Every time you see your son or daughter making bad choices, Satan wants you to feel regret. He wants you to blame yourself for their sinful choices. But like the apostle Paul, you need to gain this assurance: “One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3: 13).

 The key is not to regret having regrets. (That only brings on more regrets.) Instead, give your regrets over to God and allow His healing power to take control of your life. As the old saying goes: you can’t change the past, but you can learn from it. 

 When you feel disappointed in the way you parented, or even ashamed, look to God. When doubts creep in and you feel you failed as a parent, cry out to the Lord. He will heal your pain.