If you are a mother of a child who has turned away from God or who has never accepted Him as savior, take heart. God always has a plan to use every means possible to bring that child into right relationship with Him. In Judges 13, we learn of a barren woman in Israel who was visited by an angel of God.

And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. Judges 13:2-5 (KJV)

The woman did as she was instructed and she gave birth to Samson. She and her husband raised him according to the instruction they received and did their best to guide him in right living. However, Samson’s life was woven with rebellion and stubbornness. He violated his Nazarite vows and in many ways did what was contrary to what he should do. Likely, he caused his mother much anguish at times.

Samson eventually ended up in the tent of Delilah, and she was his downfall, gaining his confidence and conspiring with the Philistines to rob him of his strength by cutting his hair. (See Judges 16). He was taken captive, his eyes gouged out and he was forced to labor as a slave for the enemy. All looked lost for Samson, and if his mother was alive and aware of his fate, she was surely heartbroken over her son.

Some of you feel the same way right now. Perhaps your son or daughter wants nothing to do with God. Maybe they are in prison. Or possibly they have a successful career and see no need for God. Regardless of the circumstances, a godly mother’s heart longs for her child to have a personal relationship with the Lord and to follow His plan for them. You may have been believing for their salvation for a long time. You might have been interceding for them for years. No matter how things look, don’t give up on them now. Samson’s ending was not ideal, but he accomplished what God had for him to do. In His humiliated state, he turned to the Lord and asked to be used one last time.

And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. Judges 16:28-30 (KJV)

Samson’s circumstances brought him to a place of humility before God. In his humility, he turned to God for help. When children rebel and turn from God, we can stand on the Word and believe God will do whatever is necessary to bring them into right relationship with Him. God knows how to get the attention of wayward children. He loves them more than you ever could, and He is faithful to continue drawing them to Him as long as they have breath in their lungs. Take heart, mothers (and fathers too), God has not forgotten, and He is still working.