A new year lifts us up, shaking off the remnants of last year’s mistakes, opening a panorama of a better future. We love to leave the hurts and failures of yesterday, believing that tomorrow is filled with sunshine and promise.

Except, when you love a prodigal. Too often fears win out. You hope, but you dare not “get your hopes up.” You dream, hoping it doesn’t once again become a nightmare. You believe, but always with clouds of doubt blocking the brightness you desire.

Can we have hope for the new year? Assuredly so!

Judy’s Resources:

• Read “Can you dare to hope?”: http://tinyurl.com/mufeb349
• Read “The Lament of a Sigh”: http://tinyurl.com/2s3bvxu7
• 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 Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

Lord, please, for Christmas could my child come home? Would you set him free from his addictions? May they see the emptiness and destructiveness of their choices. And, Lord, may we have peace in our family for Christmas.

When you love a prodigal, your heart yearnings for your loved one seem to intensify at Christmas time. But we can ask for those heart’s desires—from God and from that prodigal.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read The Gifts of Advent https://tinyurl.com/34h24mjw
• 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 Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

If you have listened to many of my podcasts, then you know I encourage all of us to give thanks in everything.

I got to practice what I preach in real life last week. And though this story is not about a prodigal, it’s certainly a practice to live out before a prodigal or someone you hope never becomes a prodigal.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read Help for the Hard--no, Impossible--Times: https://bit.ly/3BpvxHp
• 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 Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

Judy Nelson Lewis and I go way back. She's been a magazine editor, writer, and now a spiritual director. We had a great conversation about advent, waiting, and how that can help us through our prodigal journey. It's a gift to you.

Judy Nelson Lewis’ Resources:

• Website: https://www.judynelsonlewis.com
• Buy Judy's new book, Exhale: https://a.co/d/3DWRv2G
• Enter for a chance to win Judy’s new book, Exhale: https://judydouglass.com/bookgiveaway

Judy’s Resources:

• Read Waiting with Hope: https://bit.ly/3VlMolg
• Read Prayers of Hope and Blessing for Christmas: https://bit.ly/4iabk9f
• 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 Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

In Philippian 4:6 the instructions are more specific: Pray about everything, with thanksgiving.

Pray, of course. Give thanks? Much harder.

But that is exactly what we are told to do, even in scary, out-of-control circumstances. Give thanks. It has been one of the most important, helpful, even life-changing truths I have learned.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read Give Thanks:Pray with Thanksgiving - https://bit.ly/3VbqvoJ
• 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 Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

Our natural response in times of uncertainty and in life with a prodigal and the fears and frustrations we encounter, is to name everything that is wrong, to complain about all we don’t like. And our God receives our honest laments.

But He also encourages us to give thanks. In everything.

Seriously? How do we do that?

Judy’s Resources:

• Read Give Thanks: In Everything. - https://bit.ly/41cxTUL
• 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 Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

I was reading Barbara Rainey’s blog recently and saw a post Relating to Your Adult Children. For most of the years God has had me in a loving a prodigal ministry, we have focused mostly on teens and young adults. But in recent years I hear more and more stories from parents whose adult children have separated from them—some a little, many because of rejecting their faith, and many who have completely cut off contact with their parents.

Today Dennis and Barbara are giving us practical and surprising ways to keep that relationship positive and healthy

The Rainey’s Resources:

• Website: https://www.theraineys.org
• Listen to The Dennis & Barbara Podcast: https://www.theraineys.org/podcasts
• Learn more about FamilyLife: https://www.familylife.com
• Read Barbara’s Book, My Heart, Ever His: Prayers for Women : https://a.co/d/dAOSNbN

Judy’s Resources:

• Read How to Be a Peacemaker: https://bit.ly/3YZguNF
• Read What to Wear as a Follower of Jesus: Humility: https://bit.ly/4fFqQaY
• 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 Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

As I have listened to the stories of friends’ prodigals and prayed for my son and many others, God took me on a journey back into the wilderness.

Gratefully I was reminded over and over of the transforming truths that I have learned on that path. And I am still learning.

These truths are gifts! Let me remind us all of some of the gifts we receive on a prodigal journey.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read God's Birthday Gifts to Me: https://bit.ly/3UCFo3c
• 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 Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass