Wednesday: A Wandering Child
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 17th of June 2026
Many know firsthand the pain and heartache of having a child who—despite the strong, spiritual home they were raised in—has chosen to walk away from a relationship with the Lord.
Ephraim, as part of God’s chosen nation, strayed from the Lord. What do Hosea 4:17 and Hosea 7:1-16 tell us about the sins of Ephraim?
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Furthermore, we read that Rachel, the grandmother of Ephraim, metaphorically weeps because Ephraim has walked away from a relationship with the Lord (Jeremiah 31:15). The Lord responds to her great sadness with these words in Jeremiah 31:16-17: “ ‘Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the Lord, that your children shall come back to their own border’ ” (NKJV).
Instead of weeping over her wayward child, Rachel is told to have hope. What else does Jeremiah tell us? Read Jeremiah 31:18-19.
Through Ephraim’s story, we learn that there is always hope, because God doesn’t give up. Although He rebukes His wayward people time and time again, God’s compassion never fails, and His message in this chapter continues (see Jeremiah 31:20).
We might feel great pain, frustration, and discouragement, or even speak negatively of those who are close to us who have walked away from a relationship with God. Yet, God reminds us that He has not forgotten the wayward child—not at all! God’s thoughts for such a person are not fleeting but instead are heartfelt and sincere. In fact, God says that His heart yearns for such individuals. He longs for them to return to Him, and His mercy is great.
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How does knowing that this is God’s response to Rachel’s pain over Ephraim’s waywardness make you feel about those you know who have walked away from a relationship with the Lord? How does this challenge or encourage you? |
Thank God for the hope He gives us as found in Jeremiah 31:16-17, as given to Rachel regarding Ephriam. And as Paul gave us the hope we have in Christ for us personally, and for us to share to others. Romans 5:1-5.
Another growth In Christ activity for your devotions is to gather your favorite hope Bible verses during your devotions for yourself, then as spiritual sustenance you have to share with others. For example, reflecting on the lesson a week ago. “Rom. 8:28; Phil. 4:4–13; James 1:2–4, 12; and 2 Cor. 12:9, 10. As part of your study, write down three key messages you can share with someone who is facing setbacks right now. Keep 2 Corinthians 1:4 in mind.”
“A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” (Jeremiah 31:15, ESV)
Jeremiah 31 allows parents to hold two truths together: it is appropriate to grieve, and it is appropriate to hope. Rachel weeps, but God speaks of a future. For parents whose children have drifted from their faith, hope may not mean certainty about when or how a return will happen. Rather, it means believing that a child’s current spiritual condition is not beyond God’s reach. For believing parents, that remains a source of encouragement: a child’s wandering may be deeply painful, but it does not place them outside the scope of God’s love, patience, and ability to bring them back.
Parents often ask themselves, “What did I do wrong?” While self-examination can be healthy, Jeremiah’s message points beyond parental performance to God’s covenant faithfulness. The ultimate ground for hope is not that parents did everything perfectly, but that God continues to seek and call people.
Our children are born into a world that naturally rejects God who created it, for our human desire is about self-sufficience and independence from authority as we search for perceived happiness. In the underneath of all these is a misdirected desire to be loved, valued, satisfied, and happy with misleading thoughts that we can get happiness out of one who created and knows us better than we know ourselves. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). God remains compassionate and looks beyond the surface for He sees what hurts. God’s forgiveness for our wandering children, is a forgiveness that looks beyond their mistakes and sees value and worth. God has a mercy that throws His arms around our wayward children even while they are still far away. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him” (Luke 15:20). A kindness that receives our wayward children and restores them. A love that welcomes our children home—we are therefore called to share the same love with our children even when their hearts are rebellious.
Just as God does, parents can also relate to the struggle for our wayward children like Ephraim. We have an opportunity to draw near our children with both grace and truth as the compassionate Father of the prodigal son, fully aware and knowing that we too are prone to search for fleeting happiness in this world like they do. We need to teach them to examine where sin may be stemming from, for example unbelief, wrong beliefs, insecurity, pride, or fear. We need to let them know that sin cannot be excused. We need to provide our children with insightful choices, thoughts, and attitudes that often grow out of a true desire to find security, happiness, and worth in God. We need to teach them to find their identity and worth in God; we need to help our children discern the motives of their hearts, as underneath the surface lie thoughts and actions that can mislead them. God is a God of impossibilities, for He can bring a dead heart to life, heal what is broken, forgive the unforgivable, give strength to the weary, and bring the prodigal children home. “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). Let us be encouraged whether our children are in their teens or even twenties orveven forties; they are never beyond the reach of our gracious, compassionate, forgiving, loving, and redeeming Heavenly Father.
May God ever keep our relationship with Him strong.Let us also do our part by suplicating the Holy Spirit for power to strengthen our relationship with God. Amen!
Last night I went walking with a friend in a large “savaanah type” recreational facility not far from where I live. I was aware previous to going for the walk I was not feeling that well. After making about a circuit or two, I shared with my companion that I needed to rest awhile and encouraged her to keep on walking without me.
As I approached the benches a man who was already seated hailed out to me. I did not recognize him , and even after conversing with him, I still do not remember him, however he remembered me.
He shared with me the fact that he remembered me from church and that he was now backslidden. He shared with me the cause of his backslidden condition being that he was painfully insulted by another member.
Where I am I going with all of this information. The point is this: it is correct, that at times we have done everything that we could have done and should have done to bring our children into the way of the Lord and they still backslide. However, it is my opinion that in the majority of cases we have erred along the way.
One simple example issues from a theological perspective, especially in the context of Seventh-Day Adventist homes. We agree that children should be obedient. As they grow older and begin to mature we should share with them the need to develop a personal relationship with Jesus, which involves spending time with Him on a daily basis ,growing to love and trust Him and as we trust and have faith in Him we secure power from Him to do the things ORDINARY people cannot do; such as stop telling lies, honouring your parents and even keeping the Sabbath holy.
In many cases this is not done. I know. I grew up in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. They told me flat, that if I wanted to please Jesus and go to Heaven I had to keep the Ten Commandments, full stop.
I can almost hear you say I know loads of church members who are not particularly “religious” who do that kind of stuff. The alloted space does not provide me to share with you the depth and scope of genuine commandment keeping. Nor does it allow me scope to share with you the awesome power of our genetic inheritances which at times are in collusion with enviroments from which ONLY God can deliver us.
There is much, much ,more work to be done in our childrens’ Sabbath Schools and Church Schools. It is my contention that the seeds of our childrens’ departure from the Church are unwittingly being planted in those domains.
Friends, please pray for my wayward children, this study gives me hope!
Yes Anna we will. I just sent my sister these verses. She has a daughter in a dark place. God is seeking after them.
As a father of 4 children and ten grandchildren, I cling to this Bible promise:”Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 KJV
Stanley, wonderful insight; we need to trust God’s leading, (Romans 8:28), that when God allows our children and grandchildren to wander that when they return they will bring a multitude with them! This has given me new insight and hope for the future of our children.
Thank you Stanley and blessings to you.
I have two daughters and one of them goes to a Sunday church. I had brought them both up in the Adventist church, but the one going to the Sunday church does it to spite me because she thinks now that I am wrong, and she is right. The oldest, I have prayed never goes to church, but she was baptized. They both are needing prayers for their families to get in church, also. Please pray for my family.
Hi Karen,
Throughout this week’s lesson, I had decided to stay quite quiet. This week has really spoken to my life, and I just wanted to be more of a student than a contributor.
But your comment is so hard to ignore, and I know many here can relate—especially mothers. The commitment of a parent to raise children in a close relationship with God through teaching Scripture, emphasizing a walk with Him, and nurturing praise and prayer in the home, only for those children to choose another path and stray, brings the pain of that “terrifying” departure.
Speaking as a former wandering child, I hope to encourage you (and others reading this). Just as the two prophets, Hosea and Jeremiah, described how deeply Ephraim had fallen, I honestly believe I took a deadly detour for more than 20 years. For my mother, who was a committed church treasurer at the time, I believe it was hurt and shame all the way. In the true spirit of church-going people, the gossip grapevine under the church trees always seemed to have “breaking news” to peddle during Sabbath School action unit breakouts.
Though I have never spoken to my mother about it, I can imagine how ashamed and torn she must have felt watching her son stray away, wondering whether I would ever recover from my wandering—a parent’s worst nightmare. Your comment cuts even deeper, and it is a good reminder to all of us that having a wandering child is a pain that can push a parent into a lonely place and leave them feeling like a failure. I am truly sorry for that.
But here I am today. Ephraim has returned. Like his father Joseph, I returned with a support structure gained from the peoples—the nations—a wife, a son, and a daughter. During all those years of wandering, something never left me: the teaching of my mother. It haunted my conscience. Ephraim, whether he liked it or not, remained deeply connected to the vine of Israel (Jacob)—just as I was.
Looking back with greater wisdom, I realize that although my wandering wasted precious spiritual time, those years also confirmed that my mother’s efforts had truly taken root in my soul. No matter how hard I tried to push away, through her prayers and concern, God made my running a tail chase. Eventually, I realized I had never truly escaped. God simply brought me back to the track—this time not accountable to Mum, but responsible to God’s mission. That is a joy to any parent, and I believe it is what you are longing for, Karen.
Keep heart. Keep praying. Trust God. He has a great plan if we will only wait on Him.
My journey may not be over yet, but Ephraim has returned nevertheless. I pray that this story—or an even more blessed one—will unfold for your daughters and in your life. I hope this testimony encourages you today.
This too is my situation, brought my two children up in the Adventist church, the girl goes to a Sunday church now, when she left, she
told me she found Jesus there and able to speak in tongues too, she left the first and joined another Sunday church. The eldest boy stopped going to church completely saying he is OK without it. They were both baptised in SDA. I pray for them day and night and have been wondering where I went wrong.They were very committed Adventist youths involved in most church activities and after boarding school lives, they just changed.
Kindly pray for their revival and come back to the church of God. I have hope, trust and faith in God that one beautiful day, I will see them walk back into the church where they belong.
Pray for my breakthrough too, it has been so hard finding a good job or business yet very well qualified as a Lawyer and business Administrator.
Thank you all on this platform, its so uplifting and inspiring.
May God bless you.
I have a friend, and she was raised an SDA, but now she’s so in the world that it pains me to see her act this way. What should I do since she does not want to talk to me? I have tried everything, and her mom is dying I just don’t know what to do now………..
When a friendship breaks, the mental exhaustion is real. Try to step back and pour your heart out to God in prayer. Hold onto Philippians 4:6: ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.’ Praying that He trades your frustration for His peace. Pray that she gives her heart to the Lord, AND if it is His will, restoration of your friendship is guaranteed.
I think there to be nothing more beautiful for a believing parent than to experience the return of one’s wayward child to, for him/herself, to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Most of our worries about our children come because we want them to be safe. But what we really long for is for them to follow the path of Righteousness acceptable in the eyes of our God. When this happens, we rejoice as our anxiety is released into the hands of God’s Grace and Mercy.
Everyone needs to come to the Lord Jesus Christ on their own, free volition. Some struggle to free themselves of the pressures associated with being prodded into compliance to established norms not of their own choosing.
No one can establish a truly personal relationship with God just because their parents believed. Our children seek to find God on their own terms; this is good. Then, when they are finally ready to accept Him, they will do so because they freely chose to do so.
Ultimately, our children need to reach their destination through their own experiences – and that is good! Then, they will be prepared to build their genuine, strong faith-relationship with God; resting it on their own conviction that they have made the right choice. I speak of myself – Jer.29:13; 1 Peter 1:7;Luke 20-22.
This lesson frees me quite a bit. There have been many times I’ve wondered what I did wrong, etc.
God has no grandchildren I’ve heard, and I know that we are individuals who do have to choose through our own experiences. As parents, especially mothers, I believe, we put so much weight on ourselves, forgetting that God loves our children even more than we do. Actually, more than we can imagine. Train a child in the way he should go and when he departs, he will return. That’s not in the Living Word of God for no reason. It also does not mean every single person will choose to live a life for Christ, though I so wish that were to be the case.
And no disrespect, but I believe we have become so legalistic of do’s and don’t’s that it’s quickly causing a falling away…very sadly I say this.
I hesitate to criticize the lessons – this quarter has been quite good. But I’m wondering if Jeremiah 31 is a good choice of passage to use when talking about our backslidden loved ones. First of all, Rachel is used metaphorically in Jeremiah (and Jeremiah 31:15 is later applied to the kiling of the children of Bethlehem) and so I’m not sure it’s really appropriate to parallel Rachel to us today.
Also, Ephraim never did come back. They were one of the Northern Tribes that were “lost” and in fact their name is omitted in Revelation 7 when the 144,000 are mentioned. I am sure it was God’s desire to bring them back, but for whatever reason, it did not happen.
The principle of God’s compassion does hold true, however. I do think we need to be careful with how we interpret Scripture though.