There was a Father, perfect in all His relationships. He gave the best and most loving instruction to His children, thoroughly teaching them right from wrong. This Father advised His children to follow His words, knowing that if they did, they would achieve happiness, emotional stability, health and longevity. He provided them the best of everything, abundant blessings, a perfect home for living—a beautiful life beyond imagination, with a career that was fulfilling. They had no worries, no struggles and everything was provided that they could live forever.

Genesis tells us the story of Adam and Eve. Were His children faithful to His instructions? Did they choose to follow His mores? Did they love the truth that He instructed? Did they love Him? Sadly, no. They fell prey to Satan’s deception and disobeyed just as people do today.

When our children reject His ways

We were created in God’s image. So, it is only natural that we as parents, express sorrow when our children leave God’s pathway, just as God is sorry when His children turn from Him.

We grieve if our children forget the lessons we taught them. God understands our feelings. In Hosea 2:13 “…But Me [Israel] forgot, says the Lord.”

You can feel the suffering in His words. We may cry to our Father, wishing our children would obey, that they would not experience the consequences of alienation from God. In Psalm 81:13, God is expressing deepfelt, emotional sorrow from Israel’s rejection: “Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!” (Darby Bible Translation)  

We are happy there are families with children who have followed their parents into the faith. We pray that your families increase and continue to follow God’s pathway, never straying. But for parents with children who have left God’s Church, remember that God understands the distress, pain and emotional upset that you feel. Be encouraged that it is God’s purpose to bring your children and all mankind to the knowledge of the truth and to repentance (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9). Pray for families in the Church and encourage them. 

God’s plan is about reconciliation

In the last chapter of Hosea, we find that God pleads for His children to return to Him and He will take away all their iniquity. He corrects them in righteousness and offers to heal their backsliding and love them freely. God is merciful, forgiving and His promises are sure. In Isaiah 59:21 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD.” “My Spirit, [which] is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the LORD (NIV). That time may not be now, but He will reconcile His people back to Him at a future event.

God understands our pain. He feels it Himself and provides comfort with the assurance of His word. All people will be reconciled in a plan that is Beyond Today! It’s all in His time.