It seems unthinkable…

You raise your children in the faith—cradling them in truth from the moment they can understand words. You read them the sacred stories of Scripture, their bedtime songs soaked in the promises of God. You teach them to pray, to trust, to love what is good and flee from what is evil. You bring them to church, surround them with godly friends, and pour your very heart—your love, your faith, your tears—into their growing souls.
 
And still, one day… despite everything, you watch as they turn and walk away—from you, from the Church, from the God who made them.
 
And your heart breaks in a way you never thought possible.

If this is your story—or the story of someone you love—you’re not alone. The reality is staggering: more Christian parents than ever are walking the painful road of waiting, praying, and battling for their prodigals to come home.

The weight can be crushing. The shame, isolating. And too often, churches don’t talk about this struggle, leaving parents to wrestle with guilt and endless questions.

But what if, in the midst of the battle, God wants to give you not just comfort, but courage and an actual BATTLE PLAN?

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🌟 WHY THIS MATTERS

The story of the prodigal isn’t just a nice parable—it’s a lifeline. Many Christian parents will wrestle at some point with a child making painful choices or outright abandoning their faith. Yet our churches rarely talk honestly about this epidemic, and the silence breeds self-condemnation.

• Did I do something wrong?
• Could I have prevented this?
• Am I the only one going through this?

Too many parents are shouldering battles they were never meant to fight alone. It’s time for that to change.

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🎤 MEET MY GUEST: LANE LAWSON CRAFT

In this special “best of” series of Christian Parent/Crazy World, I’m joined by Lane Lawson Craft, author of The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal. Lane’s credentials could fill a page—bestselling author, speaker, ministry leader—but what matters most is her testimony: all three of her children took prodigal paths, and she battled for over fifteen years to see each one return.

Her family faced:

• Addiction
• Depression and suicidal thoughts
• Sexual struggles
• Years of spiritual wandering

Lane knows the pain. But more importantly, she knows what hope—and spiritual warfare—can accomplish.

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✅ KEY LESSONS & TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

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• You are NOT alone. Prodigal journeys are heartbreakingly common, and the shame or guilt you might feel is not from God.
• You can be the “perfect” parent and still have a prodigal child. God Himself is the perfect parent—and His children chose disobedience.
• Release the guilt. Blaming yourself does nothing but weigh you down. Instead, see the real enemy: the spiritual forces battling for your child’s soul.
• We’re in a spiritual WAR. This isn’t just about bad choices or poor circumstances—there is a dark army set against our families. Get your armor on. Fight with prayer, authority, and God’s Word.
• Prayer is your most powerful weapon. If you are not praying boldly and specifically over your children—even as adults—no one else will do it in your place.
• Surrender in faith. There comes a point when all you can do is place your child on the altar before God, trusting Him to do what you cannot.
• Community is vital. You don’t have to battle alone. Find other parents who will pray and stand with you.

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📦 FREE SPIRITUAL SURVIVAL KIT FOR PARENTS OF PRODIGALS

Lane’s story will encourage you—but you also need resources for the daily fight. That’s why we’ve created a powerful, free Prodigal Bundle:

• Prayer and scripture lists
• All our best episodes on prodigals
• Top book recommendations
• Encouragements and action plans

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🎧 LISTEN & TAKE HEART

Click below to hear this honest, hope-filled, and practical conversation with Lane:

Or find CP/CW on  Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

BONUS: Stick around for Part 2 next week—we’ll go even deeper on setting boundaries, handling outside judgment, and why Christian community is absolutely essential for every hurting parent.

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📝 AN ENCOURAGING WORD

Moms and dads~

The enemy is after this generation, but you are not powerless.
The statistics might seem bleak, but God specializes in lost causes.

Please:

• Share this episode with your church, friends, small group, or any parent who is hurting.
• Let’s be real with each other. Tear down the walls of shame.
• Stand together—battle together—pray together.

REMEMBER: God gave you your kids for a reason. You hold the key to unlocking who He created them to be—no matter how far they wander.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Laine’s Website: https://lainelawsoncraft.com/

Catherine’s Prodigal Bundle

PRAYER SERIES:

Ep. 13 – 4 Types of Prayer Every Believer Should Know

Ep. 14 – How To Battle for Your Kids in Prayer

Ep. 15 – What Should I Expect When I Battle in Prayer?