My Two Front Teeth

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV). Recently I received an email from one of our subscribers to Morning Devotionals. She simply asked for my prayer for her at this Christmas season. She went on to tell the story of her daughter who had left home last year. She was addicted to drugs and though the mom had tried to help her in many different ways, her daughter had run away. She didn’t know where she was, or if she was safe. She was rewriting the story of the Prodigal Son without the happy ending asking for prayer. I began to think of the many people I see each week in the counseling ministry we have in Middle Tennessee. Many of the stories are so similar. And, just as I thought of that email, I heard a Christmas song on the channel I was listening to as I write. It was "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." Well, I have my two front teeth; and, I don’t suffer the pain of this mom. Never-the-less I wanted to write a few words to all of you who have prodigals. And, to those who don’t, pray with me for them. First, God knows the yearnings of your heart. He knows exactly what you want for Christmas. And He is so willing for you to ask, to be honest, and to cry out. So don’t be afraid to tell Him how your heart aches, about your fears for your loved ones, about your concerns for your other children, about how overwhelmed you feel at this time meant for celebration. Second, remember that His answers almost always look so different, and have such later timing, than our requests. We can’t understand what He is doing, though we can know he will work it together for you good. You are his child and that is his unalterable promise to you. Scripture tells us repeatedly that He knows and understands and is filled with compassion for our pain. Third, recognize that the power of God is greater than anything you may face in this world. He will indeed give you peace for today and forever. All of the uncertainty and fear that you are feeling for your prodigal is but a prelude to the glorious workings of his grace in your life. Don’t stop believing in their return. Like the father in the parable, look to the horizon for their return. Pray that God would bring them to the end of their experience and that they would come home whole. Fourth, know you are not alone; I and many others stand with you. I join you in asking God for miracles in the lives of your prodigals. But I also ask that He will help you to experience His peace and freedom from fear and deep rest in Him. Join with me, won’t you? Join me in praying for all those who have pain this Christmas that they will know the peace of the Christ.