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Psalm 102:17-18a – He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. Let this be written for a future generation. (NIV)

Romans 15:4 – For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (NIV)

Just after Christmas, a young teenager came to his grandparents and asked if he could stay with them for a little while, as things at his home weren't going well, and he had nowhere to go.

No doubt there was a conversation with his family before taking him in. I have no idea what went on in the home of his parents! But for whatever reason, there was no love lost between them! In fact, there is in this teenager a lot of hate.

He seemed lost and afraid, and it was decided by all concerned that he would stay in the home of his grandparents to finish out his school term.

But what the elderly grandparents did not know was that this boy was on drugs, and they never imagined what was to come before them during those six months. On more than one occasion, the police were at their door. Even as they love and care for him, it was obvious that the load was far too heavy for them to carry. Struggling on to the last day of school, the time came to move him out. What a hurtful time for grandma.

I don't know the end of this story, but it has been tragic to watch and very draining on the caregivers.

What about this boy — and so many of this generation who suffer in the same way? They lose everything, living on the streets with nowhere to go, no place to sleep, to eat, to bathe — completely lost and doing anything and everything to get money for drugs.

What a downfall in a generation. How deep is the silence of the soul!

What is it that will save them?

Reading over today's Scriptures once more, let us pray that those who have become destitute may turn back to God in prayer, and that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, they might have hope.

Then, we who know the Lord must try to deliver that hope to those who so desperately need to hear it, whenever there is someone who will listen.

Prayer: Most gracious heavenly Father, we pray not only for one family, but also for many in this world who have a child or children who are homeless and have no-one to care for them. We pray for those who seek drugs to escape their hurt, and for parents who don't know how to deal with these situations, and who, in some cases, give up on their own children. We pray for those who are lost that they may find their way out of their misery. We pray for them in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

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About the author:

Anne Russell <annerussell80@gmail.com>
Brampton, Ontario, Canada

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1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    Wonderful challenge Anne.


    Amen Anne. May God guide us all.


    Great Devotional Anne, as always. It’s good to see you writing again.
    Blessings.


    Thanks for sharing this story, Anne. So sad that there are so many situations like this in our world today. I echo your prayer – Amen!


    Amen – with God nothing is impossible!
    Nice to see you’re writing again Anne.
    Blessings.


    Anne,
    Your devotional makes a great advocate for these souls. Hats off.
    Blessings.


    Dear Anne,
    I have a feeling that this situation you described is being repeated all over the world today. May we be a conduit to help them: parents, grandparents and children alike.


    Anne,
    What you so beautifully wrote about in today’s reflection, is what I do here in Los Angeles on a daily basis for the past 25+ years. Many people just aren’t aware of the toll it’s taking on families.
    (CA)


    Anne: What a sorrowful event described in your Devotional tribute for this day.
    Its ending so unsolved relates to what occurs time and again, millions of times, throughout N. America alone. What seems to be the response to so many families, to so many afflicted persons is, “Woe is me.”
    Your choice for today’s Devotional, Anne, gave me an inspirational place to add my ‘two cents worth’. May God continue to bless you real good too.


    Thanks Anne. Great to see one from you again.
    We must also pray that governments will make stricter laws against selling drugs, enable the police more power to charge them, and courts must give longer sentences.
    More and more drugs are being manufactured and sold by people, being made more available, and there are more overdoses, so many of which are fatal.
    God Bless you.


    Thank you for sharing this lesson. I too have been there… many years ago with my daughter. A runaway so often I was on first name with the youth police. Recently, after serious praying, many rounds of counseling, she attended a healing service at our church. A few days later she experience the spirit of God bathing her a golden shower of a rain storm in the sunlight. She told me that God had cleansed her and that He loved her and told her what has happened in the past was not her fault. That she was a good person. I feel this has been an important BIG step on her journey and as her self worth gets stronger she will move closer and nearer to God and family. Prayer is often the only too we have left to deal with these hurting young people. May we all continue to pray for them. Blessings.


    Amen!


    Thank you, Anne: I’ll be meeting a mother of a 19 yr. old in much the condition you describe. I’ve printed a copy for her to give her another reassurance she is not alone.

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