I learned some lessons parenting our children.

Love your children equally, but love them differently.

Treat your children equally, but not the same way.

What is good for one may not be good for the other.

What will work with one may not work for the other.

I didn’t always do it perfectly, but I did learn the lesson.

Doing things differently for each child should reflect your great love for them as an individual.

God loves His children that way and treats them that way.

God as a Parent is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). He loves us all equally, but treats us according to His love for us as individuals.

Let’s lay a foundation. God is our Creator, making us fearfully and wonderfully, with no two people the same, not even twins (Psalm 139:14). Psalm 33:15 says, “He fashions their hearts individually.”

Because we are all different, His great love for us causes Him to answer prayers according to what is best for us individually.

The way God got Saul’s attention was quite different from the way He got Moses’ attention. The ways He healed the different blind men were different, but they each received their miracle. Sometimes the miracle given by Jesus while He was here on earth was because of the faith of the one receiving it, and at least one miracle from Jesus was because He “saw their faith,” the faith of the ones who had brought the needy person to Him (Matthew 9:2).

Testimonies of what God has done in the lives of others builds faith, but we should give God thanks even when He doesn’t give us the same miracle in the same way. In fact, we should thank Him for not giving us the same miracle in the same way. Hearing the miracles others receive shows us God is still working miracles, and we are grateful for that, and while we are rejoicing over this, we should also be grateful for His always doing what is best of us! His miracle for you as an individual is better for you than the miracle for which you may be praying will be duplicated in your life.

God is very aware of you and your circumstances, and He knows how they fit into His plan for your life, His plan for good and not for evil (Jeremiah 29:11). He loves your prodigal more than you do, is very aware of him/her, and He has a plan just for him/her.

There is a peace and rest knowing God will do what is best for you and your prodigal.

Trust Him.

Our Father, You know what is best for __________. I trust You, knowing it is Your perfect will for him/her to be saved. Do for him/her as Your great love dictates for him/her. In Jesus’ name I pray.