Praying for a Hedge: Protecting the Wayward with God's Intervention

*_Praying for a Hedge: Protecting the Wayward with God’s Intervention_*

Have you ever felt as if you have run out of prayers for a wayward person in your life—whether your child, a cousin, or a spouse—and that person is still running headlong toward destruction?

If so, you might identify with Hosea, whose wife, Gomer, was continually on the wrong path and running after other lovers. In Hosea 2:6-7, God said, *"Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and wall her in, so that she cannot find her paths. She will chase her lovers, but not overtake them; yes, she will seek them, but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for then it was better for me than now.’"*

When people we love don’t have the wisdom to see the destructive paths they are on, we can pray for a “hedge of thorns.” This means asking God to separate our loved ones from destructive influences, to cause those who lure them into evil to lose interest, and to cause the wayward to lose interest in them. Just as God’s actions caused Gomer’s lovers to depart, this prayer can form a barricade to keep destructive influences out and the wayward person in.

In essence, a hedge of thorns prayer asks God to create obstacles and blockades that frustrate the wayward person's attempts to pursue harmful paths. It’s important to understand that this prayer can’t change a person’s will, but God can remove wrong influences and frustrate the wayward person’s attempts to get to them. Proverbs 21:1 reminds us, *"The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes."* While God respects our free will, He can influence circumstances to lead a person toward righteousness.

In the midst of their frustration, pray that the wayward will turn to God. Pray that, just as the prodigal son in Luke 15:17-18, they will come to their senses and say, *"I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.'"* Trust that God, in His wisdom and love, is working behind the scenes to bring your loved ones back to Him.

If you find yourself at a loss for how to pray for a wayward loved one, consider praying for a hedge of thorns. Ask God to block their path to destruction and to remove harmful influences. Trust that God can use these divine barriers to guide your loved one back to Him. Through prayer and faith, believe that God is actively working to protect and redeem those you care about.