Episodes

Love is more than a word. Love is a verb. If you have been listening to these podcasts, you know our prodigal was a boy God sent to us at age 10. Knowing all the struggles he—and we–had, you might say that we truly loved this boy. We provided for his needs, encouraged his growth and development, introduced him to life-expanding people and opportunities, and spent time with him. But he didn’t believe us. What he had known in his early life was abandonment. The people who mattered to him had no...

“This is hopeless! I’m done. There’s nothing more I can do.” Have you ever said these words? Or at least felt them? Today in our second look at Treasures in the Wilderness we will consider holding on, keeping on, persevering, not giving up—truly a gift from God. Resources: Read: Never Give Up https://bit.ly/3R7t1J4 Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodi...

When you are navigating the wilderness of a prodigal journey, you probably aren’t expecting to find treasure. But if you keep your eyes and mind and heart open, you will be amazed at the many treasures hidden in this challenging journey. And the one we discover today will enable you to find the rest. Resources: Read: God Is Always Working https://bit.ly/3HO5Q1Y Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlY...

Living with and loving a prodigal can be so confusing and frustrating, sometimes especially for a dad. You don’t know what to do, how to handle unacceptable behavior, who can help you. Tom Yohe joins us today, bringing wisdom from years of walking with a prodigal. He and his wife, Dena, have developed resources to help hurting parents with effective approaches and real hope, and founded Hope for Hurting Parents with his wife. And now Tom has a just released book: Moments of Clarity: Wisdom from...

Today we have a special guest. Dana Russo is a long-time friend of mine. She has made beautiful music for large and small audiences. And she has turned loss and grief in her own life into a powerful, compassionate ministry to others—to people like you and me who love a prodigal. Dana founded HOPE RISES (hope-rises.com) to companion others in grief and provide much needed education in our mourning-avoidant culture. Dana’s degree in Social Work, two certifications in Death and Grief care, and ov...

On Prodigal Prayer Day we prayed for all those names on the list of treasured prodigals, as well as our own beloved wanderers. What a privilege! And what a battle! I am always exhausted at the end of the day. We—and those we pray for—have an enemy who doesn’t like that we are on our knees on their behalf. So what do we do now that we have prayed? Resources: After we pray: https://bit.ly/3xeQH6h Praying is warfare: https://bit.ly/3zcGGYJ Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bi...

It was June 2 several years ago. Eighteen of us made a large circle in our Florida room. We each shared why we had come—a brief overview of our journey with a prodigal. Some were new-to-me people so new-to-me stories. Others were reminders of long waits to see changes, of despair and hope intertwined. What did we have in common? We each loved a prodigal. Some were just taking their first shaky steps in this wilderness. Others were feeling their way in the shadowy darkness. A few had stories of...

One of the best things that happened to our son was to be put on probation for two years for a minor incident. The consequences were much greater than the offense. But it was an answer to prayer that we could never have anticipated. We had prayed that he would receive some real-life accountability for some of his poor choices in his late teens. That was one of many answers to prayers prayed on a June 2nd Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day. Resources: A Word from Josh: https://bit.ly/38BcGLg Receiv...

The chaos was almost palpable. He and his friends barged through the front door. The kitchen was the first stop, then they scaled the stairs to his room in a few leaps. In the early years it was just boy noise and roughhousing. But as years went on, it escalated. We wanted him and his friends to feel welcome in our home, but their roughhousing turned violent—there’s still a hole in the wall and the roof needed repair because they climbed out the window to sit on the roof to smoke pot. They bec...

The night our prodigal came to Christ, began three sleepless nights for me—engaged in fierce battle with the powers and principalities of the prince of the air—the minions of the devil himself. My understanding was that the evil one had always assumed this boy was his. His birth heritage and early life put him undeniably in Satan’s domain. So when prayers were answered and he said “yes” to Jesus, the devil was not happy. Resources: Read: 5 Helps to Resist the Devil https://bit.ly/3Fq4XeE Break...

Today we continue surveying the amazing gift God has given us for our prodigal wilderness journey: His very own Holy Spirit. Last week we considered how He is an Advocate—He’s on our side and stands with us; and a Comforter—who is always with us to comfort and console. This week we look at two more roles of the Spirit: Encourager and Truth. You will be blessed by how the Holy Spirit cares for us. Resources: Read an article on the Spirit: https://bit.ly/3vuxahp Read an article on Encourage: h...

Today we begin the most important series of all our times together. We talk about the secret for surviving and thriving in your wilderness journey. But sure to jot down ideas you can try and apply. No matter what human influence, pressure or leverage we think we may have to bring about change within the prodigals we love, God always reminds us that real change comes through the action of His own Spirit. All that we have considered on this podcast to help us walk through our prodigal wilderness...

Over the past year and a half, we have talked about many ways to help our prodigals, and many ways to help ourselves walk through this wilderness journey. And all of those are legit and helpful. But the bottom line is, God is the one who knows what they need and we need—and He can do it. Prayer is our means to connect with God. But most of us need some help knowing how to keep praying. Resources: Prayers for Your Wilderness Journey: https://bit.ly/38CXcWv Prayers for My Prodigal on Prodigal Pr...

When Pam was with us two months ago, she was kind—and so vulnerable—to tell us her long journey with her son Jake’s addiction, his getting clean and making good plans for his life, and then one slip while helping an overdosed friend. That one slip took his life. If you haven’t listened to her story, check out Episode 49 of When You Love a Prodigal.\ Today Pam will update us on her journey of grief, and also acquaint us with the wonderful resources she has developed through what she learned and ...

You may know the story of Hosea. God asked him to be a living symbol of His faithfulness to unfaithful Israel. So Hosea married a prostitute, loved her, gave her children—and pursued her when she returned to her former life. God did the same to Israel—pursued her time and again when she turned from Him as she chose a valley of trouble instead of the goodness of the one who loved her. Through Hosea God said to Israel, "…I will make the Valley of trouble a door of hope." Resources: Read An Anc...

Most of us are bruised people who desperately need to be reminded, however subtly, that hope is real, grace is often present, goodness counts, love is possible and our lives matter. I believe this is more than mere artistic preference: the human race depends upon it. And people who love a prodigal depend on it. Here are 10 reasons you can keep hoping. Resources: When the News Is Bad…Here’s Some Help https://bit.ly/3wTVOcr Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ S...

The numbers were adding up. The cars he had gone through numbered 17. The traffic tickets for one year were about 5. I don’t even know how many of the gifts we had given him were gone—pawned. Nor how many times he said “You’re not my real mother.” And the stories he expected me to believe seemed endless. On and on. And as the numbers climbed, my hope dipped and disappeared. Resources: Read: His Name Is Hope: https://tinyurl.com/bddd8k94 Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bi...

When you love a prodigal, you live with fear. One mom named some of the fears she had for her daughter. She could: Be kidnapped and held against her will; Be abducted and sold into sex trafficking; Disappear and never be seen or heard from again; Move away and sever ties with us forever; Suffer irreversible brain damage from drug use; Die from a drug overdose; Die from alcohol poisoning; Give up and commit suicide to end her suffering. What do you do with your fears? Resources: To rea...

Our Josh was invited to a week in California with a “surf pastor.” He loved surfing, and he loved the fun and spiritually challenging week. He came home wanting to walk with God, to change his life. And he did. I held my breath. Would it last? It did. For about a month. But old friends and old choices and the lure of addictions won again. My hope crumbled. Once again, the waiting began. Resources: Read Weary in the Waiting: https://tinyurl.com/4zm48kke Read Fragile Hope: https://tinyurl.com/5e...

Do you need a counselor? Someone to listen to your fears and frustrations, to understand what it feels like to struggle with a child, to not know what to do, to feel like a failure. Someone who can give wise, practical, workable input. To give you hope. Then I’m glad you’re here. Today I am talking with June Hunt, founder and CSO (Chief Servant Officer) of HOPE FOR THE HEART. She is a counselor, teacher, author, and speaker, covering subjects ranging from Anger, Abuse and Addictions, to Apologe...

Recently a prodigal lover posted a prayer request: “I think my son will be the death of me.” That’s what it’s like sometimes, isn’t it? The fear, the uncertainty, the drugs, the stealing, time in prison, the pregnancy, car accidents, angry words, even the silence when they leave. Resources: Watch a video of Transformational Treasures from a Prodigal Wilderness https://bit.ly/3gUwucV Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here:...

Today, celebrating 50 episodes of When You Love a Prodigal, Josh—the prodigal in Judy’s story—tells his own story. In an honest, sometimes teary, tender and hopeful conversation, Josh and Judy walk through his life—from the addictions of his birth mother, being thrust into the Douglass family as a foster and later adopted son, lots of wrong friends and wrong choices . . . . Listen in to hear the rest of the story. Resources: Read more about Josh’s story here: https://tinyurl.com/39nk7nwv Join ...

“I’m just a mom…who’s become a warrior.” Growing up with family addictions, Pam Lanhart was determined to protect her children from that devastation. But it came anyway. Her long journey and battle for her son’s freedom has benefited many families through her book Praying Our Loved One Home, and a ministry: Thrive: Family Recovery Resources. If you love an addict, don’t miss this conversation. Resources: Connect with Pam Lanhart: https://pamlanhart.com/ Pam’s book: Praying Our Loved One Home h...

It was a long journey. My friends encouraged and prayed for me, but they had families of their own. My co-workers listened to my stories, but didn’t really identify. My husband was so helpful and supportive, but he was busy and gone often. The prodigal wilderness was often lonely. Alone. Overwhelmed. Stretched. Who would stick with me? Who could I trust? Resources: Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39...