That is a precious story. Most of the times it seems we do not see the reasons especially for the difficult times in our lives. One thing we do know as Christians is we can trust God no matter what. That might be part of it. We learn more of His faithfulness and our need for Jesus during the storms of life.

I believe that God did not want these estrangements to happen. But He did give us free will and how each person uses that for good or bad is an individual's decision.

But - when our AC estrange from us for whatever reason, I believe when we pray God hears us and will work to answer our prayers the best He sees should be answered, but we need to wait for our AC to turn to Him and then He can help them return to us.

I know a person very well who tried to kill herself. She didn't want to fail and so she set her car on fire, doused in gasoline, with her in it. As she was in that burning car, surrounded in flames, nobody would think anything good could come from it.

That woman survived, turned her life to Christ, and is an example to others that God can take a horrible situation and use it for His good.

A God who can use a mess like that can certainly use the situations with our estranged children for His good purposes as well.

I often think of the story of Joni - a 16 year old Christian girl who dived in a pool one day and came out a paraplegic. After going through a period of anger, questioning and thoughts of suicide, she came out the other side and became an instrument that God used to witness to millions of people around the world. As Christian parents I think it is hard to be patient while waiting for our kids to "come out the other side" because we know the consequences if they don't take the offer of salvation in Christ.

I start most days out with a devotion from Joni. You have to be encouraged knowing that of she is living her life to bless others with her circumstances then with God's strength maybe I could, also.

My favorite preachers (and testimonies) are the ones who have gone through deep waters and are still praising God. They are the ones who I can learn from the most. To help others and be a blessing could be a purpose that could come out of estrangement.

linda.... I think one of the biggest traps that I, and many other Christians, fall into is expecting to know the outcome to life's trials and tribulations that come to all humans as a result of being born into this world. That is not 'always' the case. God does not promise to tell us what he is doing in other people's lives even if those lives are our own children and our own circumstances. Until we, and I again say we, meaning me included, get past that expectation we are always going to be our own set-up for questioning God, depression, anger and bitterness.

We may never see the 'purpose of the rain' but we can be sure that the rain produces both good and bad as a result. The purpose of rain is to provide us with drinking water, water for things to grow and water to get us from one continent to another. But, that rain also brings tsunamis that destroy, mudslides that wipe out people and neighborhoods, floods that destroy cities and towns. Life always had both the good and the bad with almost everything that comes our way. We have to see the good along with the bad because that is what happened when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the 'knowledge of good and evil."

So true Guelsmom, The bottom line is God is God. We may never know the purposes of what takes place. We can still trust God.

I just read today's Joni's devotional and she again said how life 's trials make her (and is as believers) long more for Heaven. This world is not our home.

To all things there is a purpose...some are good...some are bad...some are wonderful...some are horrible and devastating...

It's called Life...live it.

AllK