Is your child struggling to survive? Has their well-being been compromised by an addiction to drugs or alcohol, time spent in jail or prison, a mental health issue, same-sex attraction, self-injury or an eating disorder? Are they in need of special care by a team of specialists?

My second grandchild was born ten weeks early. She spent the first weeks of her life in an incubator to help sustain her life until she could survive on her own. The machine helped control body temperature, oxygen levels and provided  the right amount of humidity. While we were going through this trying time I realized something: God has our wayward sons and daughters in His incubator.

Dictionary definition of incubator:  An apparatus for maintaining an infant, especially a premature one, in a controlled environment; a place or situation that permits or encourages formation and development, as of new ideas.

Of course our children have already lived in the outside world, but now they’re in need of some extra TLC from the Great Physician. They a type of incubator, an intensive care unit specially designed by God.

In His incubator He will:

Warm their hardened, calloused hearts with His motherly love.

Breathe His life into their lungs.

Nourish their sin-sick souls with regular intravenous feedings of His Word.

Care for them as their spiritual doctor and nurse, eager to provide all they need to not just survive, but thrive in the outside world.

Wash them with the priceless blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, to be pure and clean inside and out.

Change them  into a new person through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.

Clothe them in His righteousness.

Swaddle them in His tender loving care.

Heal all their wounds and diseases from the effects of their destructive choices.

Give them a brand new, abundant life (John 10:10).

Nothing escapes His attention. No mistakes are made. Nothing is missed or overlooked. He gives attention to the smallest detail. No problem is too difficult.  He has all the wisdom, power and knowledge required for every problem. He’s able to provide whatever is needed at the right time and in the right way.

Parents of premature babies are eager to have them become strong enough so they can hold them whenever they want, for as long as they want (maybe your child was a preemie and you remember). Parents of wayward children are just as eager to hold their child again.

Some of you have been waiting for years.

I remember how it felt when my daughter – gone from us over a year, deep into drug and alcohol addiction –  ran into my arms asking me to forgive her for all the hurt she’d caused, whispering in my ear how much she loved me. I drank that moment deep into my heart. I remember it like it was yesterday. God can do it for you, too!

Great Physician, keep our children in Your incubator, under Your scrutiny and watchful eye until Your healing work is done.  Show them Your tender mercies when they finally turn to You for help.  Allow them to feel only as much pain and brokenness as is necessary to bring them to their knees in humble surrender.  May today be the day they fall down before You and beg You to take it all away. We believe you can do it. Help our unbelief.

This Bible verse always increases my faith to keep believing what God can do:

“Now to him who is ABLE to do immeasurably MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.”  (Ephesians 3: 20-21)