You have been faithful in your assignment and Holy Spirit is at work in the life of your loved one in ways that you are not able to perceive. I understand that you may not have detected any real change in them or their situation, but God has not brought you all this way to fail or leave you hopeless and stranded by disappointment. The strongholds in their life are breaking by the power of God and it is about time for the harvest to come in, so what should you reasonably expect to take place?

More than likely, it will not be a beautiful, perfect reunion under a rainbow, or anything that resembles my generation’s romantic movies. But it will be flawless in God’s own way.

In Luke 15, the turnaround point in the life of the prodigal son came right at the bottom of his lowest point. He was financially, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually broken. He was literally living in the mud and filth of a pig pen, and eating the same slop for food. But a spark of hope flickered in his mind as he considered if his family could ever accept him back into their home again. He began to mentally prepare his apology speech, hoping to come up with something genuinely honest and meaningful he could say to show his father how sorrowful he was. He stood up out of the mud and began to turn and face the direction of home. And I believe in that moment God began to bring peace to his heart, although he did not know it was because God was also preparing the fathers heart for his son’s return.

I like to think that the father began to go outside each morning, finding excuses to stay near the road, so he could more easily detect any figures approaching in the distance. The son started towards home, still caked in mud and filth and the stench of rock-bottom, nervous about what he might be going home to. Would it be joyful? Or would he face more rejection?

Day after day, the father watched and waited. And in one moment, his gaze caught the outline of a man with his head hung low, moving slowly and with great effort.

Right now, the work is being completed in your loved one’s heart that will turn them back towards their father and back home. Your heart is also undergoing a work of grace so that you will receive them properly. They might very well look like a literal pig pen that God is transitioning them out of, and you must be prepared to handle that. The father received the prodigal son gratefully and with cheer, and immediately restored him to his rightful position in the family. He did not hold his son at arm’s length in case he decided to leave or hurt him again. He did not ask him a thousand suspicious questions and demand explanations. He simply ran to his son, threw his arms around him and his filthy mess, and showed him love and forgiveness.

At this moment, your loved one is experiencing the turn in their heart and in their physical life. They have no idea what God has been doing inside of you during their time away. You must keep your eyes open and fixed to the road in the distance and get their place ready for them. Accept them exactly as they are when they return, and don’t be afraid to embrace them even if you get a little messy too.