Episode Details

Your son calls from his dorm and mentions casually that he hasn’t been to Liturgy for the last few weeks. What do you do when a call like that ends? In this episode, we talk with Pastor Will Browning about how to respond when a child walks away from the faith or makes choices we never expected. He names the shame that convinces parents they’re at fault, returns to the story of the prodigal son and offers ways to stay close without losing hope. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re talking with Pastor Will Browning about how we can respond when our children make unexpected choices.
• Why is open conversation about this topic so important for parents?
• Why do so many parents feel shame when a child struggles?
• What can we learn from the story of the prodigal son?
• How can we stay hopeful and prayerful while watching our kids make mistakes?
• Why does our presence matter, even when it doesn’t seem to be working?
• What are some internal pitfalls that parents should watch out for?
• How do we find the balance between discipline and encouragement?
• What does it look like to respond well to an adult child’s choices?
• Is there ever a time to create distance from our own child?
• What’s the next right move for a parent struggling today?

Resources:

•  Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Download The Encounter app
• “10 Things Every Orthodox Parent Should Know”
• “Doing Life with Your Adult Children” by Jim Burns
• Magnolia Church