Bible Verses By Need
14 Bible Verses for A Prodigal or Wayward Child
The father in Jesus' parable watched the road every day. That is God's heart, and it can be yours. He pursues the lost, keeps His promises to households, and no one is beyond His reach.
What the Bible says about a wayward child
“And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
Luke 15:20
The father was watching. God watches the road for your child too.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
The seeds you planted are not lost; God can bring them to harvest in time.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
Acts 16:31
There is a promise here big enough to pray over your household.
“For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty... I will pour my spirit upon thy seed.”
Isaiah 44:3
God promises His Spirit even upon your children and descendants.
“Thus saith the LORD... thy children shall come again to their own border.”
Jeremiah 31:16-17
There is hope for the end; your children can come home again.
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
Luke 15:7
Heaven itself rejoices over one sinner who repents, so your prayers for your child's return are joined by the joy of God.
“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
Luke 15:24
The father's cry that his son was dead and is alive again shows the homecoming God is able to work even now.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Luke 19:10
Christ came for the very purpose of seeking and saving the lost, and your wandering child is exactly whom He came to find.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
God's patience is not slackness but mercy, unwilling that any should perish and giving room for repentance.
“But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.”
Isaiah 49:25
God promises to contend with those who contend with you and to save your children, taking up the fight for them Himself.
“I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.”
Ezekiel 34:16
The Lord declares He will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, the shepherd's heart for the straying.
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:4
God's own will is that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, and that will stands over your child.
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
John 6:37
Jesus promises that whoever comes to Him He will never cast out, so no returning child of yours will be turned away.
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:11
The word of God sown into a wayward heart will not return void but accomplish His purpose in its time.
A prayer for a wayward child
Father, I am carrying a child who has wandered, and my heart aches for them. Thank You that You pursue the lost and watch the road for their return. Guard their life. Draw them back to You by whatever it takes. Let the seeds we planted rise again. I trust You with them; bring my child home. In Jesus' name, amen.
You do not have to face this alone
The family will pray with you, and you can hear how Christ met someone else in the same place.
Ask for prayerHear a testimonyAsk anythingFind a church near youPeople also ask
- Is there a Bible verse for a prodigal child?
- The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15), Proverbs 22:6, and Jeremiah 31:16-17 give hope for a wandering child's return.
- How do I pray for my wayward child?
- Pray Luke 15 over them, claim promises like Acts 16:31 and Isaiah 44:3, entrust them to God's pursuit, and keep watching the road with hope.
- Does the Bible give hope for a child who left the faith?
- Yes. God pursues the lost (Luke 15), keeps covenant with households (Acts 16:31), and promises children can return (Jeremiah 31:17).
More Scripture for what you carryWhen You Need a MiracleGrowing OlderAnxietyFearDepressionBible verses about family